I am so glad my children met their Bavarian Lutheran great grandmother. She would tell them how growing up in Bavaria her parents would put up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and reveal it to the children. Then off to the Divine Service and beautiful Lutheran carols by candlelight in some medieval church. The tree came down on Epiphany day my Oma’s birthday. Twelve days of Christmas. I despise what Anne describes in her article. While my Oma did not grow up in “good days” her stories of Weihnachten in Germany tell of a world I long for.
I decorate early because my childhood Christmases were ruined by a humbug of a father. But the real reason is God is in control, Jesus chose a manger knowing He would one day face the cross, and He stooped to include me in His family. Sometimes it is hard not to wish everyone Happy Christmas all year around.
Anne, I have also been confused about this moaning and groaning of the lack of rights, especially since Trump and team backed away from abortion, pro-life, all of it.
Even though I am 200% pro-life, I’ve been trying to understand why so many women think abortion is THE issue that gives meaning to their life. I can only presume we (the culture) simply want sex with anyone at anytime without consequences??? I want to believe there is some deeper reason.
Gosh, that makes our modern generation so primitive. And small minded. Truly, we -as a culture- have no higher ambitions?
I like this poem. Well done. It’s so interesting to see people grasp for “joy” (and not really find it) when real joy is extended through what is truly Christmas.
Beat Frequency (Christmas in October)
Backward through the calendar
Christmas yearly strides.
Pagans push it earlier;
Summerward it rides.
Every year it starts again,
Sooner than before.
Someday we shall wake in June,
With Christmas at the door.
Still, they won't be satisfied,
These hurriers to carouse,
Until electric bulbs are hung
From April's budding boughs.
Faster! Sooner! still they cry.
On the madness goes!
Heathen frenzy at the malls,
'Mid February's snows.
Why this dash to Bethlehem?
Why no fear of danger?
Rush on pagan, meet your Lord,
Lying in the manger.
Finally, they shall catch me up;
We'll celebrate in synch.
And they shall have their Christmas Eve
Upon Epiphany's brink.
This beating of the Christmas waves,
For aeons shall it live.
For pagans need more Christmases
Than Christendom can give.
© 2011, Paul Erlandson
I am so glad my children met their Bavarian Lutheran great grandmother. She would tell them how growing up in Bavaria her parents would put up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and reveal it to the children. Then off to the Divine Service and beautiful Lutheran carols by candlelight in some medieval church. The tree came down on Epiphany day my Oma’s birthday. Twelve days of Christmas. I despise what Anne describes in her article. While my Oma did not grow up in “good days” her stories of Weihnachten in Germany tell of a world I long for.
I decorate early because my childhood Christmases were ruined by a humbug of a father. But the real reason is God is in control, Jesus chose a manger knowing He would one day face the cross, and He stooped to include me in His family. Sometimes it is hard not to wish everyone Happy Christmas all year around.
Anne, I have also been confused about this moaning and groaning of the lack of rights, especially since Trump and team backed away from abortion, pro-life, all of it.
Even though I am 200% pro-life, I’ve been trying to understand why so many women think abortion is THE issue that gives meaning to their life. I can only presume we (the culture) simply want sex with anyone at anytime without consequences??? I want to believe there is some deeper reason.
Gosh, that makes our modern generation so primitive. And small minded. Truly, we -as a culture- have no higher ambitions?
I like this poem. Well done. It’s so interesting to see people grasp for “joy” (and not really find it) when real joy is extended through what is truly Christmas.