saint of the week

Saint of the Week  December 20, 2007

 

 

Nearly every morning my two dogs and I head into the woods.  They get to let the clutch out and I "plan my work and work my plan" while getting some exercise.  Yesterday morning I brought along my 8 "how many more minutes till Christmas" year old.  I was hoping that she would burn off some energy.  It was a crisp morning.  The ground was frozen and it was lightly snowing.  Given the amount of rain that we have had in the past weeks, the trails were dotted with huge frozen puddles. Because the ice on the puddles was only ½ inch thick or so, I told my daughter not to walk on the ice.

We crunched and chatted our way to the turnaround spot and then began our journey back.  Our younger dog did not care much about the thin ice she just hopped her way through smiling all the while.  I was about 5 feet ahead of my darling daughter when I heard a loud crunch and a cry, "Mommy help!'  I turned to see my cherub knee deep in a puddle.  I lunged toward her as she stepped out on to more ice and again was knee deep.

She was in tears.  I pulled her out, hugged her and emptied her boots.  She asked how she was going to get back.  I told her that she would have to walk.  "But my feet are cold". 

"I know honey, but there is no other way, you have warm clothes on, you'll be ok."

"Are you sure?"  "Yes."  As we walked, I could not help but ask why she did not listen to me.  She does this a lot.  She often has to learn lessons the hard way.

 

This is the third week of Advent.  Christmas is four days away.  We are shopping, cleaning, baking, and hurrying our way through the season.  Why aren't we listening?

When we are tired why don't we listen to our bodies and slow down.  Are we working for the applause of others or for the applause of heaven?  When we are feeling lonely or depressed why don't we listen to our heart?  Our heart longs for what no human or human creation can fill.  Our heart longs for God.  When our mind asks, "Where are you Christmas, why can't I find you?"  Why don't we listen to scripture and hear that Christmas is found not in a mall, but in walking away from our earthly pride and stepping into a stable.

 

Don't spend this season wondering how you ended up in a mess.

saint of the week

Saint of the Week:

 

 

 

My family and I live in the Northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.  For those you not familiar with the Pittsburgh Area there is a highway that connects areas north to the city.  It is Route 28.  Although it is often under construction, it is the most direct way to get into the city.  Between our home and Downtown there are many on ramps.  The most notoriously dangerous is the one at Fox Chapel.  My husband supposes the reason for this to what he calls the Fox Chapel yield. (Named after location, not residents).Travelers on this ramp do not yield.  Actually it is quite the opposite.  Travelers at this on ramp actually speed up. It looks as if they are entering the Indianapolis 500 after a Pit Stop.

 

I am noticing now that this phenomena known as the "Fox Chapel" yield, also happens on airline passengers. It begins with boarding. Generally planes are loaded by zones.  As soon as the first zone is called for boarding, everyone, regardless of zone, rushes the gate, only to have to stand there until their zone is called.  Why?  The plane will not leave without them.  (Although it probably should). Then, when the plane lands and pulls up to the gate and half of the plane leaps to their feet.  I can't tell you how many times I have been seated mid plane or further back only to stare at someone's buttocks for 15 minutes while we wait for the 26 rows ahead of us to de plane.

Of course everyone then runs down to baggage claim and volleys for optimal bag claiming position, only to have to stand there and wait for their bags. Last week I actually saw an airport employee pushing 2 wheelchairs attempting to get on the tram.  There was a woman in his way.  He asked her if she could please step back.  She gave him a blank stare.  He asked again if she could please step back.  She moved about an inch.  Then he just did the bulldozer thing and got on the tram.  There was plenty of room for everyone (She had the last laugh by beating him down to baggage claim).

 

Today is the first Sunday of advent and the beginning of the liturgical year.  For many of us we gasp as we imagine the tidal wave of Christmas barreling toward us on the shore.  If ever there was a good time to yield, this would be it.  Webster's tells us that to yield means to surrender, give way or to give up something to somebody.  On the roads it means to slow down or stop in order to let another vehicle pass.

As we move through Advent, how about if we don't do the Fox Chapel yield this year and speed up.  How about if we don't push our way down to baggage claim at the expense of our fellow passengers?  What if we actually follow Webster's definition. Give our hearts up to God. Advent is not about lights, presents, cookies, cleaning, programs, cards, luggage or trees.  Advent is about the heart, period.  So, yield.