reverie

Why do I believe in impossible things?  Because snow in Texas.  Because the Red Sox won the 2004 ALCS (and WS).  Because without fail the expectant yet weary hope of advent yields the birth of the Savior. I stood outside waiting for it to snow tonight.  From the first moment anyone dared mention the possibility of snow in the forecast, if all of the the variables lined up perfectly of course, my hopes skyrocketed.  I was certain it had to happen.  In a year of freak weather events, certainly snow had to be among them. I gasped as the snow started in earnest.  No matter how many times I see snow, it's always magical.  But it's especially wonderful in Texas where it "doesn't snow."  I had to hold back happy tears so they wouldn't freeze on my face.  But I delighted in this gift.  Thank you, Jesus. At youth group last night we talked about something in our lives that feels impossible or unimaginable.  As I sit here wrapped in s...

Why can't we put the nativity on the mantel? Because the nativity is too big and it wouldn't be stable. (Credit to my 14y.o. niece for inadvertently coming up with this joke!) Yep, there are pineapples on my Christmas tree.  I ❤️ pineapples.  And while there was nothing particularly spiritual involved in my decision to put pineapples on my Christmas tree, if you pay enough attention, you'll start to see Jesus in everything. Pineapples, in addition to being the finest fruit in all of creation, have long been a symbol of hospitality.  If you recall the Christmas story, hospitality was lacking when Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem.  The best the innkeeper could do was offer them a stable.  And so the King of the world was born in the humblest of places. If we're really honest with ourselves, though, how often do we resemble the innkeeper?  How often do we try to shove Jesus off into a small place in our lives and our hearts while we go about our business...