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Stand still sunThursday, December 21, 2017
From Song of Solomon 2 It has been good to spend time in the darkness, awaiting the light. Last week we took wrapped gifts to Jack and Aly's house, giving our grandkids a few days to finger paper, shake the boxes, imagine the best. Bright wrapped gifts under a beautiful tree bring such great joy to us. We left gifts there for their parents as well, but I don't really expect them to spend much time shaking the boxes. As I've gotten older, I realize that sometimes the wrapped gift might be underwear. But sometimes ... sometimes ... there might just be the most magical imagined world right there waiting for me. Remember Opie in "The Music Man"? Ron Howard reprises his role in this wonderful YouTube video with Conan O'Brien (go to about the 2 minute mark). "Yes it could be, something special, just for me!" We call this coming season winter, but really, the days now begin to lengthen. Each afternoon the sun rises higher in the sky. Yes we need our winter sleep, but we waken every day to stretch our sleepy arms out toward spring. "The song of the dove is heard in our land!" Neither personal pains of any kind nor any sort of politics hold this back. Life goes right on, and the song breathes itself all around us. So across the earth, in every corner, we mark and celebrate this day of solstice. Praise the Lord! For the umpteenth year, tonight at Jubilee Farm in Springfield, Illinois there will be a winter solstice feast. The Dominican sisters who live there and spark so many celebrations throughout the year can't wait. Their chickens will be sleeping, their organic vegetable gardens will be resting, their pottery barn will be quiet, as they share the bounty of their farm with all comers. What a beautiful place! And anyone who has a flashlight can walk their labyrinth. Come away, and let us listen together to the music of the spheres. Can you hear it? The little drummer boy pounds on his drum. Get ready! Jesus is almost here. I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum. I have no fit gift to bring, so can I just pick up my sticks and pound my drum? Lord, let me sing your praise and fall before you on my knees, and shout for joy that you live in me. I can't wait to share your laughter and your song. Papa rum, papa rum, pum pum pum on my drum. |
For weeks, Advent stretches toward this solstice day and tomorrow, finally relaxes toward Christmas.
Tomorrow we will have three seconds more daylight than we have today.