It is the day after Christmas, and I am laying back to enjoy the past week, the week leading
up to and including Christmas. The week was Jesus-focused and people-rich, and I feel satis-
fied and content. I really couldn't ask for anything more. The week began with a wedding last
Saturday, December 17, in Astoria, Oregon. I caught a ride with dear friends to see the beauti-
ful daughter of a best friend of both of us marry her best friend and the love of her life (don't
worry, that's one guy, not two). After the wedding ceremony, the proud father of the bride
wowed the guests with a bold and energetic dance routine with his darling daughter. Great fun
was had by all!
Then I was able to lay low until Thursday when things started happening again. A small group
I've had the pleasure of being part of since I returned to Longview prepared a dinner for guests
at a shelter in town. About 13 of us prepared pancakes and sausages for about 110 people. We
were challenged by a stove that did not provide a consistent surface for cooking over 200 pan-
cakes and broiling enough sausages. But perseverance and ingenuity prevailed and we were
successful! I found out I haven't lost my talent for knowing when to flip good-looking pancakes.
Later that night I met with a guy with whom I've been meeting with every Thursday since April
to discuss the basics of the Christian life. It is the first Christmas in his lifetime that he recognizes
that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Since mid-March I have been attending morning prayer between 5 and 7 am at a Christian com-
munity center in town. I try to attend five or six days a week because it provides me with the
spiritual foundation for my time here. It has meant a lot to me, especially during the Christmas
season. So, that was where I was Thursday morning. That night some close friends took me to
a Mexican restaurant that we enjoy. Great food and great friends! A family friend with whom I
had lost contact saw me come into the restaurant and came and talked to me. I was saddened to
hear that her husband had passed away just the month before. But now I know where she lives
so that I can visit her. Later I was able to finish up and send off two emails to the church I'll be
pastoring in Scotland. The first was a short message to be read to the congregation at the Christ-
mas Eve service, and the other was to be read to them at the Sunday Christmas service. Next
Christmas I will actually be with them in person!
I woke up early on Christmas Eve to go to Morning Prayer, but felt sick as a dog. I had felt
something bad coming on the day before, but thought I could carry on. I thought about sleep-
ing in, but pulled on my clothes and went to Morning Prayer. I really struggled through Morn-
ing Prayer and crashed as soon as I got home. I slept for nearly four hours and came close to
canceling all that I had planned for later that day. When I first arrived at a Christmas Eve get-
together of a family that is very dear to me, I felt lousy and completely out of it. But the time
together eating, talking, and exchanging gifts really put some life back into me. I had such a
great time. I went back to my place and napped another two hours or so. I felt much better
when I went to my church's Christmas Eve candlelight service. I was a narrator for a dramatic
reading of the Christmas Story. I felt renewed and energized by again hearing the Christmas
Story.
I had been invited to two family gatherings after the service. Earlier in the day, I had thought
on passing up the opportunities because I was feeling sick and tired. But I felt good after the
service. I couldn't decide which one to go to, so I chose to go to both. And so I did. I enjoyed
talking with friends and munching on Christmas goodies. It made for a late night, but a very
enjoyable one at that. Despite the late night, somehow I was up for Christmas Day Morning
Prayer at 5 am. There was barely a handful of us there. After enjoying a quick nap, I was off
to a short Christmas service at church. Then in the afternoon I was invited to a Christmas Din-
ner at the home of dear friends and their extended family. It was such a delicious ham dinner
with a lot of great things to eat. I got to meet new people and talk with people I knew from be-
fore. But five-year old twin girls and their 10-month old sister were the center of attention. It
was just a great time on Christmas Day.
The last three Christmases in Scotland, and indeed, the last three years there, were very diffi-
cult for me. For the past several years I have felt squashed and battered, and the twelve-month
visa refusal only contributed to that state of affairs in my life. But the Lord has richly blessed
me by leading me here for this period of time. I have enjoyed being with dear friends again
and being back at the church I grew up in. It has been good to be home for Christmas. I will
always treasure this time.
Continued Christmas blessings to you and yours,
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