The Reason for the Season

The Cat and the Christ Child

The cat crept into the cave. Stripy, she was, in the daylight.  But now, well past sunset and the settling of darkness, she was as black as any other cat.  The tabby's left ear twitched, cocked over her left shoulder as she heard the rustling in the straw strewn over the floor.  A great ox lying nearby snorted softly as he dropped his head to the ground.  His horn made a clack! as it made contact with the rock.  He exhaled.  His nares vibrated briefly then all was still.

The cat remained motionless.  Long moments dragged slowly by.  In the distance an owl called to its mate.  Then the rustling began again as the mice resumed feeding on the loose grain in the straw.  The cat's right fore paw inched forward, settled softly, then the left paw raised, advanced, soundlessly touched the rock, then pounce!  Her prize in her claw, then between her jaws, she nestled close to the belly of the ox and dropped the mouse.  Stunned and addled but still with a will to live the creature staggered and attempted to run.  But the cat casually reached out, dragged it back.  Again she released it, this time allowing the creature to "get away."  But the cat sprang, recaptured the mouse and lay down again.  She played her cruel game with the small captive for several minutes, but finally tired of it and overcome with hunger she crunched its skull between  her teeth, then dined on her catch.

So Stripy, sated, slept.

A ruckus arose within the stable.  A pair of human creatures shuffled into the space, one carrying a blazing fagot in one hand as with the other he supported the woman who staggered in and collapsed on the floor.  A donkey followed them.  Then entered a large nondescript dog close on the heels of the ass.  He went to the female human creature and started licking her cheek while the man wedged the torch into a notch in the wall that served as a sconce. The presence of the canine got the attention of the sleeping cat, which started and sprang to her feet.  She scaled the flank of the ox where she settled, thus attaining a full view of the goings-on.  The ox slept on.

Soon there was frantic activity, the man bustling around the woman, the woman writhing and screaming in obvious pain. All the creatures in the stable stirred restlessly, the sheep bleated, and even the ox raised its head and voiced his concern.  Following a protracted episode of heavy breathing and intermittent screams, everything fell silent for a few moments.  Then suddenly the mewling of a new man-child pierced the quiet.

The man patiently worked at cleanup chores, handed the infant to its mother.  Everyone except the man, the woman, and the cat finally went back to sleep.  Then the woman cradled the tiny human creature in the straw the man had laid in a manger. The tabby, her tail erect and switching from side to side drawing esses and zees in the air, left her perch on the ox and sauntered casually toward the small human.  As the cat approached the child, the dog lifted its head, raised itself up on its two forelegs.  The cat made not a sound but gave the canine the evil-eye.  The dog lay back down.  The cat circled the child and we might imagine that she was thinking, "Big deal.  Just another human." Then she went back and snuggled into the warmth of her bovine friend again.

 Which all took place before the gaggle of rough and ragged men began to fill up the space, babbling about a Heavenly Presence that came to them in the fields praising God and telling them that this child  in the stable was The Christ!

The cat was wrong.

Merry Christmas!

and let there be peace, at least between you and me. 

©David W. Lacy 2015

Joy to the World!

In the spirit of the season of "peace and goodwill," I won't be offended if you wish me "Happy Holidays!" Please don't be offended when I wish you a "Merry Christmas!" Thank you.

Spring, springs, and spring

These early signs of Spring in the yard combined with a sunny seventy degrees in the air tended to get me all excited within the range of possible excitement for a jaded old man such as myself.

Seriously, I do feel excitement at the promise of the coming of Spring and a new growing season.  I can still feel, I am just less able to be expressive about it.  I mean, there is no dancing in the streets.




In reading from the Bible,  I find the term "spring" as I am using it here to be pretty much absent although the word "spring" appears numerous times.  In I Samuel 9:26 we find an injunction to rise in "the spring of the day" which might be interpreted as a Spring such as we are soon to have, but I think more likely the phrase could as well have been interpreted "daybreak."

The only other use of the term which might reference a season is in Ezekial 17:9 wherein there is mentioned "leaves of her spring."  All other uses of the term refer either to spring (n.) as a source of water, a very important thing in that semiarid geographic locale, or to spring (vt.) meaning to leap, or to leap forth.  In any event, I find the Spring time of the year to be most exhilarating.

The first picture shows the springing of the naked ladies, or resurrection lilies about which I almost always write at the end of July.  The second picture shows the lilac, the leaves of which are near to bursting open!

About three years ago I wrote about Achsah, Caleb's daughter, and the springs which were the object of her attention in the Book of Joshua.  If you wish a short Sunday morning devotional, revisit the account here.

"Give me . . . springs of water."  Joshua 15:19
.
The readings are from the King James Version

Happy Anniversary, BB!

Fifteen years ago today, BBBH and I stood in front of Pastor Herring, a great cloud of witnesses behind us.  We said. "I do," and the rest is history.  Fifteen years of adventures, togetherness, travels, pleasures, and pains.  Together.

And that makes it all good.  Have we both been deliriously happy, sitting firmly on Cloud Nine during every waking moment?  Be serious.  Do we have joy in sharing our lives with each other?  Yes.  Okay, speaking for myself, yet I believe we both participate in that joy.









I write hundreds of words nearly every week, yet this is a summary of all I have to say:  I love you, JoAnn.

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

--Psalm 32:11

O! Happy Day!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

--Robert Lowry, 1826 - 1899

Pedro, Juan y Maria Magdalen en el sepulcro vacio

Jaime Dominguez Montes

He died that you might be saved. He arose that you might live with Him eternally!

Happy Easter!

In the Pink

Beautiful, sunny morning, lovely fall-like temperature of 75^o.  I am happily soaking it all in as I pedal more or less leisurely along Jefferson Street headed for the post office.  Then with no prompting, no recollection of anything that would have impelled me to remember this, I found my self singing:

Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself It's later than you think.

You work and work for years and years
You're always on the go
Never take a minute off
Too busy makin' dough
Some day, you say, you'll have your fun
When you're a millionaire
Imagine all the fun you'll have In your old rockin' chair

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

This, along with two or three other verses, was recorded back in the Dark Ages by Guy Lombardo, and by Bing Crosby, and probably by others, if memory serves me correctly.  Why I remembered it?  I guess I just felt good and needed to remind myself that today is the day in which we may enjoy God's creation, enjoy our lives, for the morrow will come all too soon and with no more than the promise of the "rocking chair" at best.

You all know me well enough to know that I pay little attention to lyrics, and I have said many times that I know one verse of a thousand songs, but I don't know any songs in their entirety.

Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink!

It's later than you think.

Marriage of Matt and Candie

Saturday is traditional wedding day in these parts, nevertheless BBBH and I defied that tradition by getting married on a Sunday.  But that is another and extraneous story.  So guess what we did Saturday!

Yes, we went to a wedding.  My eldest grandson, Matthew wed his beloved, Candie.  It was a lovely shindig held at Morse Park, right on the edge of the lake.  We could watch the SeaDoos and sailboats in the background as the festivities progressed.

Lovely as the wedding was, and it was lovely, there was an added bonus.  I got to see and visit with a lot of family members whom I had not seen in a while.  Three of my four fifty-something children were present as were numerous members of their clans.

In addition to gaining a new granddaughter-in-law, we gained three great grandchildren, Logan, Trinity and Mayaha.

So what was the glitch?  The ceremony was announced for four-thirty.  Everyone was there, guests, parents, grandparents, minister, everybody in fact but the bridal party.  No bride, no groom, no attendants.  At five o'clock everyone was standing around eagerly looking down the road for approaching vehicles.  The minister was making jokes to lighten the mood.  5:01 the party arrived.  Then it is get the bride out of the vehicle, have her mother and her attendants fix her hair, fix her gown, and so on and on; the vows were written by the couple, and each one made a speech about five minutes in length.  They were finally pronounced at 5:57 and were presented to the guests as Mr. and Mrs. just before the six o'clock chimes rang.  Then we did all the stuff that comes after the wedding and before the happy couple speeds away to whatever prearranged rendezvous they have chosen.

Then a very tired old grandpa and grandma couple went home.

Verse of the Day

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

'Tis the Night Before Christmas

'Tis the night before Christmas and all across the land
All the bloggers, a right hearty band
Are checking their pallies one last time
Before shutting down, going off-line
For Santa won't visit so long as he knows
That the light of the screen continually glows.

The spouse is in nightcap, or perhaps having one
So it's time to hit “Start," strange way to shut down.
Through the list once more wishing the best
to each. To Chuck on his Secondary RoadsMay happiness envelope all your brood.
A Quality Day in Michigan for Joan
This day and every day for her and Om.

To Lin, proprietor of Duck and WheelWe wish blessings abundant and real
As you celebrate with Joe, and Col and Em
Chicago's best and brightest, joy to the brim!
A short hop by 'net, but miles away
We swing down Dragon's Alley.

For Grace and Hubby may they see
Beauty in this day, even in Filthadelphee.
While we're in Pennsylvania, too
I say, Heres's What Let's DoSay, “Merry Christmas" to Mikki
and all her family.

To "Upstate" New York
Rebecca explains her work
On New York Traveler.
Blessings to you, Mrs. Mecomber
and to those whom you love.
Then we need to hurry, shove

Off to the eastern shore tonight
to greet Andrea at Arise 2 Write.
Prayer warrior, God bless you
and all creatures there, four legged and 2.
Marydon in Maryland, historian,
Decorator, Blushing Rose and
family "Merry Christmas!"

My, this tour is getting awfully long,
But we must sing a carol, or song
for John and Ginny at Rabid Fun
Before our trek is done!
Now up! up! away from Florida,
to Minnesota
Where we wish the best for Pearl,
Why You Little... Go, Girl!
Your writing fantastic,
Comes each day from your mind elastic.

To Colorado for a special shout out to Vee,
Very Verla, Joie d' Vivre.
Love you much, and the Mister.
Vee, that's my sister!
Back home in Indiana, must say "Hey"
To Down the Road creator, Jim Grey.
Travels with Jim always a pleasure.
May Christ be your greatest treasure!

And Hoosier Happenings, Indiana man
Respect your anonymity, wish you and
The wife and kids God's richest blessing.
Don't over-gorge on tofurkey and dressing.

This doggerel is about to wear me out,
So to these, too, I give a shout.
Captain of a Crew of One, Hometown Lad, USN ret.
The Church of No People, Mid-America pastor, teacher, thinker.
The Threadbare Couch, another hometown success! Texas pastor, mother, philosopher.
Crotchety Old Man, funny man in spite of not funny life.
The Old Geezer Blog, says it all.
John Deere Mom, farm mom.
Leigh vs. Laundry, funny mom.
Let's Have a Cocktail, Atlanta's answer to funny.
Hypergraffiti, Maritime resident, author extraordinaire.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
You keep me happy, grinning
from ear to ear!
Day by day, year to year.

Joy to the World!

In the spirit of the season of "peace and goodwill," I won't be offended if you wish me "Happy Holidays!" Please don't be offended when I wish you a "Merry Christmas!" Thank you.

God is Good All the Time

Pastor Mark's sermon emphasized one attribute of God, namely His Goodness.
Reading Psalm 34
In John 10:11 we find Jesus saying, "I am the good shepherd."
Pastor asked, "What does 'God is good' mean?" His message was the answer to this question.

1. God will always meet my genuine needs. This is not to say God will meet your wants. Phillipians 5:19, Matthew 6: 25-30

2. He will always forgive me of my sins. I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. He is always up to something good for my life. Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11

4. He will always love me personally. Jeremiah 31:3
I cannot do anything that will cause God to love me more than he already does. He loves me with perfect love. He cannot improve on His love. I cannot do anything that will cause God to love me less than he does. Grieving God does not diminish His love. God's love is everlasting. Jeremiah 31:3

5. He will give me the grace I need all the time. II Corinthians 12:9
Grace = God's riches at Christ's expense.
Why does grace show up in my life? Because God is good, all the time.
Grace abounds; in His mercy we do not get what we deserve. God is good.

Because God is good, He will lead me to repentence; I will live for Him; I will be with Him eternally.

Unblocking Writer's Block

I am a regular reader of Pete Wilson's blog, Without Wax. A few days ago he challenged his readers to offer techniques for juicing up creativity in writing. Yesterday he posted "55 Ways to Be Creative" in which he shared his readers' suggestions.* It is quite an interesting list!

One suggestion I take to heart for I am blessed. The reader said one should keep a "gratitude journal." What a great idea. It surely should trump the grumbling about the little annoyances that creep into day-to-day living.

Just for this moment and in this place, I am grateful for the October sunshine and the eighty degree temperature accompanying same. On a subnote, I am grateful for the colors that are presented me outside my window by way of the turning of the leaves.

As I am each day, I am grateful for the health and well-being I possess in sufficient measure to be able to arise from bed and dress for the day. Any day one can stand upright is a good day. Do I have aches and pains? That's not the subject of this document, yet even those remind me that I have lived a long life, and I am still alive!

I have a truly deep gratitude for the wife that lives with me, prepares my meals, yea, even fusses at me on occasion. Well, because I know she cares.

This list would be virtually endless were I to attempt to list all the blessings for which I am grateful. But this, in the spirit of "journal" is for the blessings of this day, right here, right now.

I am in awe, and gratefully thankful ever to my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who lives today and cares for me most of all.

*I shall keep a copy of this list in my TTK folder for frequent reference.