Faith and Joy
Marc Christensen • December 22, 2019
I think of Mary especially at this time of year as the best model of faith I can think of - complete trust.
This is Mary and Jesus taken in a small church in Monpazier, France. I think of Mary especially at this time of year as the best model of faith I can think of - complete trust. First, she's told that she will have the Son of God via virgin birth and when the time comes, she's hauled off from her home and can find lodging only in a cold cave used as a barn - no doctors, no mid wives, just her and Joseph. Through it all she never waivers - she's an inspiration to me daily.
Mary and Jesus, taken in a small church in Monpazier, France. Photo by Marc Christensen.
These are Christmas lights from a neighborhood in Plano, Tx. that goes over the top with Christmas decorations. The main theme is "joy." I like this definition of the word: a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated. This is a season of joy and a time to rejoice - for those people that indeed light our lives with keen pleasure and delight.
The main theme is "joy." I like this definition of the word: a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.
All the best and Merry Christmas.
Earth Day is this week. As we consider the state of our world - and the ecology of both our material and spiritual environment - it makes sense to ask what our role is, has been, and is supposed to be in relationship to "our common home" (Pope Francis).
Here are some initial thoughts about elegance, nature, and depth; a poem about happiness; and even a haiku.
It takes just a second to break something. Restoring what was broken takes time.
Outcomes are not certain, though some are much more highly predictable than others.
Life is messy. We know that. But some people move through that mess with a surprising kind of grace.
“The poor in spirit are by no means poor-spirited. They are persons who see so much to be, so much to do, such limitless reaches to life and goodness that they are profoundly conscious of their insufficiency and incompleteness.” ~Rufus Jones, The Inner Life , p. 19
