This morning God showed me something I didn't like. Sigh. A scene of tranquility. Of Resting. He showed me a view from my recliner in front of a window. Outside the window was a winter scene, of a snow covered landscape, deep in drifts. There was also a tree, beautifully iced with big clumps of snow. Bright sunlight, very Currier and Ives. There may have been a lake in the distance. My feet were up, and they were wrapped in a blanket. I was resting...

Did you know Marco Polo encountered the Christmas Story in his travels in Persia? Well, read on!

So here in this hospital room, there have been many scary moments, especially in the early stages, when I would be feeling great! And something would happen and my energy reserves would be used up without warning. My blood oxygen saturation would start falling, my lungs would start hurting, it would suddenly get harder to breathe, and all these old memories would hit me like a fire hose. My heart rate would spike. "I'm dying!!!" From all is well to sheer terror, usually in le

Early this morning I was proning and uncomfortable, and trying to pray. God brought to mind this amazing scene from the 2006 movie Apocalypto. Our hero is fleeing his pursuers and in desperation leaps over a great waterfall. As he comes out of the water at about the two minute mark in this video, his whole perspective changes, and he turns in defiance and gives this incredible speech...

As I think about it, I had definite plans for Christmas week and the following ones. But everything had to change. I survived the experience, but it was a good lesson to hold things lightly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Do you love someone? Tell them. Are you estranged from family or friends? Fix it. Do you have a dream vacation to an exotic location in the back of your mind? Book that ticket. Been engaged for years? Just marry the girl already!

It was one week into my admission into the hospital with Covid... I hadn't shaved in over a week and decided my Christmas gift to myself was to look presentable. I was kneeling at the sink with oxygen tube, trying to shave in their lukewarm water when a nurse came in. She started to fuss at me to get into bed, but took pity on me and helped me shave my head. I was utterly out of strength to lift my arms at that point, and don't think I could have finished on my own... I will

At Christmas time, we talk and sing a lot about Mary, but do we ever give much thought to Joseph?