Joy

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people." — Luke 2:9,10, NLT He called her a vile name, and ... Continue reading

Emmanuel in Iowa

The candidates are swarming in Iowa like flies on a dead carcass, "pressing the flesh," making speeches in school gymnasiums, holding impromptu press conferences in diners and donut shops. The Washington Post's Campaign Tracker uses Google Maps to pinpoint where your favorite politician is appearing ... Continue reading

Losing anxiety in a time of awe

For reasons I don't entirely understand this one day of the year seems to compress a lifetime of thoughts and feelings. There is this pressure — from where it comes I don't know — that the day must somehow be perfect, that it must recapture some lost ideal of what Christmas is supposed to be. The ... Continue reading