My friend, Karen, found a sign at a yard sale and said she thought of me immediately. I was touched that it reminded her of me.
I think it's fairly clear that I believe in America and the Florida Gators ("whether we win or we lose"). But that's not what is the most important
I also believe in love and joy and peace and HOPE - sounds like an advertisement for Advent.
Even though our parents were Methodists when they were children, the liturgical practice that observed Advent did not come with them when their parents were a part of starting Glendale Community Church in the late 1930s. It was only when they began to attend the University Blvd Church of the Nazarene (whose roots are also in Methodism) that we learned about Advent. So for more than 35 years, I have appreciated this season. And I always have an Advent wreath and write something about the theme of the four Sundays before Christmas.
As a part of his homily at our church service on the first day of Advent 2022, the Rev. George Hinchliffe asked us to participate in the verbiage included in our Baptismal Covenant. Following the message we stood (as we do each time we are worshipping together) and read (or recited) the Nicene Creed. https://www.ccel.org › creeds › nicene.creed.html.
That's what this house believes as far as the basic tenets of my faith
However. . .
When we were little children our parents taught us that although Santa Claus is not real we could believe and practice the spirit of Christmas. There were always unwrapped gifts under the tree - our Santa stuff. We also left a cold drink (I think Pepsi) crackers and cheese for Santa. Not milk and cookies for our daddy. It was all about the GIVING (God gave His Son - John 3:16).
It was Christmas 1984. My children and I were getting the hang of this single-family business. There was not a lot of money, but somehow there was always fun. That was the year that we watched a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas Special From that day to this one of my favorite Christmas songs is I believe in Santa Claus
It's a rollicking down-home country rendition performed as only Kenny and Dolly could do. After they sing about miracles and magic and forgiving and forgetting - and the fact that love should prevail at any cost and lots of feel-good words of wisdom is this line:
"I believe there's always hope when all seems lost"
When I was thinking about what I wanted to write about HOPE for the first Sunday in Advent, I googled "Scripture that has the word hope" So many verses but this one from Psalm 71:14a seemed most appropriate
"As for me, I will always have hope"
If you read all of Psalm 71 you will see that the writer was in a state of despair. Life was not good. If you are like me, then there have been times when you were sure there was no hope. The writer of Psalm 71 expressed much despair. And yet throughout the chapter, there are words that indicate some sort of restitution - and answer to the struggles.
And so I am glad that
May your life have enough sunshine,
To make you appreciate the shadows
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