Saturday, December 30, 2023
The Sixth Day of Christmas
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Sleepover with the young men who dream dreams
In the morning we listen to the lectionary, read our devotion, pray and sing a song. Lately we have been singing Christmas carols, and yesterday we found a cache of carols in Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book.
This beautiful book sat out on an end table at Mom’s house for decades, and everyone in the family picked it up from time to time. Norman Rockwell’s paintings make us laugh and sigh with happy nostalgia.
Mr. Rockwell worked in his studio till 1974, for over 50 years, and his covers of The Saturday Evening Post have been reproduced ever since, along with countless Hallmark cards. The Christmas book, full of Rockwell paintings along with stories, poems, songs and recipes, is a gem.
Last night we told stories as Jasper and Miles sat in their tent, a warm electric fire outside, a crackling fireplace filling the TV screen. At Chinati Circle some of the neighbors had a big fire pit blazing on their driveway. We imagined asking to stand by it. They invited us in, gave us marshmallows and hot chocolate, and finally asked if we wanted to ride to the moon (which was full that night) in the rocket ship warming up behind their house.
A blue cross hovered in the air beside their house, and then we saw the rocket hovering next to the cross, hissing steam, ready for flight. After a short discussion we hopped aboard. How could we turn down an offer like that?
The story wandered, mostly returning to food. “I’m hungry,” Jasper said more than once. Miles too. “All I can think about now is food!”
When we got to the moon, Miles borrowed a small capsule and went back to earth to get Mommy, who wanted to see the moon just like the rest of us. Everyone was glad to see her, and after a certain amount of green cheese, she asked us to go on into space to wander around on Venus, and then Mars. So we did, hot chocolate and marshmallows on Chinati Court long forgotten. Space, the final frontier, was surprisingly easy to get around in.
The boys slept. Our Roku TV said the soundbar was overheating, so I turned off the fireplace. The Illini were winning their game by 31 points, in spite of losing their best player. In the morning a scrumptious pre-New Year’s Eve breakfast awaits us, as long as we can find our waffle iron and waffle mix. I took the bacon out to thaw before bed.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the Evil One. Do not love the world or the things of the world.
We’re in no hurry tonight. We have more than enough. In everything give thanks, and we can assume the best because God loves us and takes care of us, in every way, no matter what. This old grandfather and the young men in the tent, sleeping silently and deeply, dreaming in the depths of night, drink in the love of God. On earth as it is in heaven.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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