In this season of frigid days with darkAnd colder nights, the family gathers near,Rekindling older holidays to sparkMemories of ones we've always held dear.Around the house and the kitchen tableOur hearts, both young and old, feel freer, lighterThan when we're left alone.  By this we're ableTo find our Christmas dreams burn much brighter.Sometimes the ones around the table are thereIn only thought...  Read More

The flashing lights of the emergency vehicles lit the square. Even at two in the morning, a small crowd had gathered. They stood together, huddled against the cold and dark, and whispered conjectures. They knew whose tractor it was.The large metal soldier, which had stood prominent in the daylight, lay disfigured on the icy concrete. The carefully cast face flattened to an indistinguishable lump. ...  Read More

This will be a sign to you: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see t...  Read More

You are precious and honored in my sight,    and I love you.  (Isaiah 43:4)I have loved you with an everlasting love;    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  (Jeremiah 31:3)I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you.  (Ezekiel 16:8)I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and in justice,      in love and compassion.  (Hosea 2:19)These a...  Read More

Balthasar and Melchior were bedded down already on the other side of the dimming campfire, and the camels had stopped their plaintive mumbling.  All was quiet on that dark night. For two days we had been traveling slowly westward under cloudy skies becoming less sure of our course for each mile we covered. Already, our homes were five days’ journey behind us. The clouds had seemed to roll in every...  Read More

From Kyong S. an English language learner from South Korea in Susan Ault’s classThe Republic of Korea allowed December 25 as a national holiday.  Therefore, from Christmas Eve until the next day, the 25th, it can be considered as a Christmas holiday.  There is nothing like a Christmas holiday like the West.  So Christmas doesn’t bring the whole family together. All Christians are judged before Chr...  Read More

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul.It is a daily admission of one’s weakness…And so, it is better in prayer to have a heartwithout words than words without a heart.”                                                            -GandhiThe news spread from 38th and Chicago.A video showing brutality and blatant disregard for the sanctity of life.Wrong versus right. Love versus hate.What...  Read More

A snowy fortress stood on the edge of townAcross the street from Richard’s house aroundFour blocks from home, in the drifted westWhere winds would give winter clothes a test.We built the sturdy fort, my brother PaulAnd many friends, with hidden keep, and allThe hardened walls we knew would never failSince they were iced by water from many a pailWe’d lugged across the street from Richard’s home.One...  Read More

The hinges on the wooden door groaned. The morning light shone into the sanctuary from the eastern stained glass windows, casting spots of color which shimmered across the pews and aisles.The church stood quiet. Empty. He sighed softly under his breath.He crept forward, his boots echoing and leaving clumps of slushy snow on the flagstone floor. Every instinct told him to keep the silence here. He ...  Read More

“Please Grandma, will you sing ‘I am so Glad Each Christmas Eve?’”JEG ER SÅ GLAD HVER JULEKVELDJeg er så glad hver julekveld,For da ble Jesus født,Da lyste stjernen som en sol,Og engler sang så søtt.Can you hear her?  Can you hear Grandma singing?   What was it about listening to that song in Norwegian that stilled those of us gathered around the piano each Christmas Eve?  That deep alto voice, fl...  Read More

Have you noticed how often in the Gospel writings Jesus talks about faith?  Sometimes he commends individuals for their faith:When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.”  (Matthew 8:10)Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed ins...  Read More

Zechariah and I had been childless for so long that we had made our peace with it.  For a priest of his importance, it was embarrassing for my husband, but he took it as God’s will for his life and, like I said, had made his peace.  We had no hopes for a child, but one astounding day he came home, breathless and agitated. God’s messenger had visited him while he was serving at the temple, and afte...  Read More