Saturday, December 7, 2024
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Rain for the seed
The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. He will give rain for the seed and your flock will graze in spacious meadows.
Back in Austin, safe, sound and ready for the Krispy Kreme donut factory just up Jollyville Road from our apartment home, which is warm and re-equipped with new appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher) for the coming year. Signing a lease sometimes gives you a few perks.
Margaret almost got on an earlier plane, but she flew into Austin from Chicago about 10 pm. At O’Hare she befriended a 90-year-old woman and “rather aggressively” got both of them wheelchairs and helpers for their trips to one gate after another (three changes in their 3 hour layover). At airports Margaret becomes a happy angel-hero, finding people, making conversation, ministering any way she can.
I had no flat tires or any other problems on the way back and had time to unload the very well-packed Prius before dark. Our maintenance hero Scott carried the biggest box in for me, while he was finishing up the dryer installation. “Man, that is hot!” he exclaimed about the dryer heat. I hope we can turn it down a little.
Yesterday I spent the morning with Miles and Jasper, first at our apartment in front of the heater (it’s 45 degrees here, all of a sudden (which is considered cold, by the way), and then eating cottage cheese and applesauce. I took Jasper to a classmate’s birthday party and Miles accompanied him, while I spent an hour in the beautiful new Round Rock Public Library. Lots of windows, terraces, and even a “hold locker” in the parking lot. I would like to visit there often.
In Las Vegas New Mexico I visited the library in 2021, where the librarian showed me several local authors’ books housed in a special room. I felt more welcome there than nearly anywhere on my Route 66 journey that year. Some of my best friends are librarians!
Sometimes I wish I was one. Ten years ago (at least) I bought a $25 lifetime subscription to LibraryThing and spent several months listing all my books. Although many of the books are gone, I can still look them up and see who else has those particular books, and what others those other folks have in their libraries. I love it.
We met Andi at First Watch near HEB for lunch. The boys each got a 12 inch (that’s right!) chocolate chip pancake off the kid’s menu, along with a glass of milk. The syrup bottle was warm, so warm we wrapped it with a napkin to pour it on. Warm syrup makes me happy. Cracker Barrel always has warm syrup, and now First Watch is on the list. Those guys will have pancakes for at least two more breakfasts.
At home I took a nap and listened to the music of Jacquie Lawson’s Paris Advent Calendar. Jacquie’s digital cards are treasures, and her Advent Calendars are jewels we discovered several years ago. I exercised my rule of life (Read, write, listen pray) today … leaving only the forlorn matter of “exercise” behind again. I wonder if I actually add that to my rule if I’ll take it more seriously.
Today is the memorial day of St. Ambrose, who certainly exercised his freedom of speech, raging against religious heretics in the 4th century and baptizing St. Augustine as the man from Hippo turned from his own wicked ways. I wonder if Ambrose exercised his body as well as his mind. I notice that St. Ambrose University has a B.S. in Human Performance and Fitness.
From behind a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way. Walk in it!”when you would turn to the right or to the left.
My mind is sidling up to the idea.
 (Isaiah 30, Psalm 147, Isaiah 33, Matthew 9-10)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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