Mopsy thinks I’ve been a little too reluctantly blogging lately. So, she tagged me for the following meme.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you had never done before?
Started a blog – a great shock to my wife.

2.Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t really make resolutions. I guess I never felt comfortable binding change to an entire year. Since God gives us one day at a time I figure I should work on stuff one day at a time. Sometimes I make it. Sometimes I do not.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law had twin boys – identical. They are the shining stars of the family.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
We lost two pregnancies this year, and my wife lost both her grandmothers this month.

5. What countries did you visit?
Australia mostly. I visited the UK a few times, and I think I may have visited Canada on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, I never left my home state so all my visits were via the internet.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Season tickets to the Colorado Rapids.

7. What dates will remain etched in your memory and why?
This whole year will live within me as an example of God’s grace.

8. What’s your biggest achievement of the year?
Committed to writing a blog – much to my shock and surprise.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My biggest one? I didn’t read as much as I should.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only of the spirit.

11.What was the best thing you bought?
Our house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I got nothing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
Appalled and disgusted? Anyone who is not willing to admit evil exists.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To various health care workers and conglomerates.

15. What did you get really really excited about?
Not enough of the the right kind of things.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
“Devotion” by the Newsboys

17. Compared to this time last year are you?
a)happier or sadder? More aware of both.
b)fatter or thinner? The same.
c)richer or poorer? Richer – in wisdom and grace.

18. What do you wish you had done more of?
Walking. Talking with strangers.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?
Avoiding the Bible.

20. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
With family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes. I’ve been falling since 1995.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
“Battlestar Gallactica”

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not anyone I know. I hate evil and I’m learning it’s sometimes necessary to Hate to truly Love.

24. What was the best book you read?
How Movies Helped Save my Soul, by Gareth Higgins

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered how important music is to my healing, coping and living.

26. What did you want and get?
A house.

27. What did you want and not get?
A baby.

28. What was your favorite film this year?
Mr. and Mrs. Smith

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 34.

30. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
Making a video.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion in 2005?
My fashion has been on a walkabout since 1994.

32. What kept you sane?
Mwaaaaahaaahaaa. You can’t make me.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not a one.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq.

35. Who did you miss?
Those I did not seek.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
sigh

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Family is God’s way of teaching love.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“I try to settle, but I just pass through
a rain dog, gypsy
a wandering Jew
all those homes were not ours
then I slept one night
in Abraham’s field
and dreamt there was no moon
the night he died
counting stars
Selah”

I heard the following story on the radio coming into work this morning, Heart-broken stranger gives away $15,000 ring. As I listened to the story a lot of questions came to mind.

Who was the giver?
What happened to cause him to want to leave the ring to someone anonymously?
Who was his love?
What if he would have been caught by the police while he searched for an unlocked car?
Why was he so diligent?

The mystery is a natural draw. We want to know the anonymous giver’s story. Some may even doubt his intent. (What if the ring was stolen)?

But it occurrs to me a broken heart can motivate one to take great risk – certainly this man could have been arrested for breaking into a car. Most often, we hear of the broken individual who takes the life of the one who left him. (I read such a story in the paper this morning). What causes such intense reactions?

I think it comes down to this: we put so much of ourselves into creating a relationship with someone the risks we face when a relationship crumbles seem small. However, the difference between the type of person who would leave a ring to a stranger and the type of person who would take another’s life is simple. The former carries hope, the latter steeps in despair.

You could argue the person who gave the ring away actually had no hope. Otherwise, why would he give the ring away? My point is he had hope enough to make his despair someone else’s gain. It struck me God faces a similar problem with each one of us. His despair at our sin against Him was played out in the sacrifice of his son who was offered to us with the hope we will see the gift of salvation and accept.

Thinking about all the dependencies played out to get the ring specifically in the new owner’s hand, I realize likewise how much has to happen for God to reach us. Just as the car was unlocked our hearts need to be open. And even after the present of salvation is offered, it has to be received with the right attitude. Which leads me to the following questions directed toward the man who found the ring in his car:

Why did the he wait 4 days to go to the police?
Would he have kept the ring if it hadn’t appraised so high a value?
What will he do with the ring now it’s his?

And more importantly, leads me to ask the following question of myself:

What will I do with the gift I’ve been given?

Sky clear, and blue.
The pines twitch with anticipation,
wanting their dull green to be painted.

When will the white snow come to settle?
When will the blanket be drawn?

The Christmas holiday calls.
No cheer.
All too clear.

The cookies need their frosting.

In my extended absence I’ve been struggling against the push to put a difficult subject to eh, the electronic screen. This subject has been swirling around in my head preventing any other post from materializing. So, if you’re frustrated at my extended absence I understand and apologize. If your patience has brought you here despite your frustration, I thank you.

The “Season” is upon us once again. And once again we’re faced with the same dance between religion and secularism, political correctness and profit. Let me be up front with you. I’m a Christian. I try not to be one of “those” Christians, or “those other” Christians, but I am “one.” I realize just making my peace known will insult some despite every attempt to avoid being preachy. I by no means mean to be.

Each year at this time we watch the fight between those trying to remove Christmas from our year-end celebration and those trying to inflict it upon us. Christmas is becoming too secular, too religious, too commercial. It’s dying. It’s consuming society like a weed.

The holiday we now know (or think we’ve known) is uniquely American. And like America today its purpose is debated by those who “have” it, those who “want” it and those who want no part of it. I understand the desire many hold to be included without being tied to the religious strings of faith. I even understand those people who want no part of it all. What I don’t get are the so-called Christians who inflict lawsuits on everyone to ensure tradition continues. (Actually, I understand the intent. I just don’t follow the actions).

I want my kids to be able to sing Christmas carols without fear of being politically incorrect. I want them to be able to wish friends, classmates, even strangers a Merry Christmas without being told they are intolerant. I think non-Christians should “get it” without having to be sued.

And there’s my problem. How does one live the calling of grace without losing their freedom or forcing their faith on anyone else?

I was struggling with all of this when my Grandmother died.

Grandma Mary was actually my wife’s grandmother. I met her 10 years ago when I was dating my wife. I remember that meeting not because I was nervous, or anxious – because I was neither. I remember the meeting for the first words my wife’s grandmother said to me, “I am your Grandma Mary,” she said. I never doubted from that moment on she was as much my grandmother as if I’d been part of her family for 30 years.

As I visited with family and listened to the service during her funeral, I came to understand just how many others she affected in the same way. She seemed to know people everywhere she went. Everyone loved to talk to her – especially because she took the time to talk to them. And to listen.

One gentleman told me he was amazed that her purse was better prepared than any boy scout. “If you needed something,” he said, “she always had it in her purse. It didn’t matter what it was.”

He went on to tell me about a road trip he shared with her. Late at night and into the early morning he drove a vehicle full of complaining passengers. She was the only one who never spoke a bad word. And only she stayed up with him to keep him company until they were safe at their destination.

People just naturally loved Grandma Mary because she genuinely loved them, and (more important) she genuinely loved her Savior. “Those” Christians don’t seem to understand they’ll never sue non-believers into their ranks.“Those other” Christians don’t seem to get that quietly doing nothing will beget nothing. If we’re to save Christmas we need more people like Grandma Mary.

So this year with a beautiful example fresh on my mind, I’ll work to practice the grace I’m called to live. If I can make it a habit I’ll have no fear of my children being told they’re intolerant, politically incorrect, or worrying they’ll be sued for spreading the joy in their hearts.

If I am blessed, my children will be able to deliver a merry Christmas every day of the year. Just like their Great-Grandma Mary.