Can you hear me now?

It is impossible to look at any human being and know what is in their heart and mind.  A calm exterior can hide a multitude of raging emotions, and dramatic ploys can cover a deadened internal life.  The closed door of the soul can be hiding raw pain, and the visceral reaction of a struggling person can be hidden by the superficialities of designer clothing and expensive trips.

Giving thanks...

Many of the holidays that people hold most dear to their hearts are religious, and thus, by their very nature, segregated from some part of the population.  For Christians, of which I am one, the biggest days of the year are, of course, Easter and Christmas, the two great beginnings of our faith and theology.  Jewish people have their high holy days, Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah.  Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.  People of other faiths have their holy holidays, as well, but in all these celebrations, large parts of the population are left behind, left out, excluded.

Lighting a candle....

There is a moment during most Lutheran Christmas Eve services where we all light our little hand held candles, usually to the accompaniment of Silent Night.  It is a solemn and almost holy moment during the service, as you watch the light from one small candle spread and fill the packed sanctuary and sing the words that become so meaningful in that setting.

The best laid plans...

Although surprises can be fun, most of us do not want to be caught unaware about the big stuff in life.  We try to choose the perfect college, the perfect spouse, the perfect job, the perfect house. We want gifted children and a dog in the back yard, the picket fence and two cars in the garage.  We feel that we have our lives in order, that we have everything under control.

Signs of the times...

Since Jesus was swept up into heaven, leaving us with the promise of returning for his followers some day, people have been predicting the day and time of his return. It is easy to see the world as we wish to, and the most innocent of happenings can portend cataclysm, if that is what we are looking for. In Revelations 11:19 (NIV) we read, "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm."