Monday, December 17, 2007

No Room for "Perfunctory"

The weather outside is supposed to be -2c but “feels like” -7c, that is according to uk. weather.com. But no matter, I survived the short evening walk with a friend going to church for the carol service tonight. There was for me a feeling of “settled comfort” in celebrating Christmas the traditional way—that is, singing traditional carols and hearing angel monologues and reading the Good Book and again reflect on the fact that what is being celebrated and remembered is an event so awesome it impacted history and humankind more powerfully than any other thing under heaven.

Yet after the whole thing, we stayed behind and over warm cups of tea or coffee, biting delicately on mince pies, chit-chatted about where everyone was going for Christmas, how the weather was getting really chilly, how some still have to wrap up work and all that. How ironically perfunctory life can settle back to be after a carol service.

An hour’s reflection on Jesus---or maybe a season, and lives move on--until the next season. I feel a bit of sadness that I could actually be so perfunctory about Christmas. It means more than minced pies, or the funny Christmas decoration of a stuffed Santa climbing into a window in the house beside the church, or hot tea with milk or a box of chocolates, or the number of Christmas cards I’ve received and arranged nicely in my room.

It’s a good thing that God is never perfunctory—that word may not even be in His dictionary…oh well, I simply breathe a little prayer, that my heart may be eased with this fact because I know that my love even at its best, can never even begin to match up to a whisper of His.

I pray that He will amaze you (and me!) with His love this Christmas.

17 comments:

vernaloo said...

He will :)

hugs!

atto aryo said...

Amen to that!

wanderlass said...

He just never cease to amaze me. Merry Christmas! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder Gypsy!
San

Unknown said...

So when is your Ireland trip? ;-)

Oh and just in case you take a short hiatus from blogging this Christmas, advance greeting na kita.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Siobe! And keep warm!:-D

-snglguy-

Gypsy said...

Hi friends,

Thanks all
...and Rudy, yes I am off to Belfast this afternoon, weee!

Toe said...

What a wonderful picture... going to Church in good old merry England. It's straight out of a storybook. Merry Christmas Gypsy!

Oman said...

Merry Christmas. I got here via Abaniko. Very Nice blog.

Anonymous said...

merry christmas to you, Gypsy! enjoy your chocolates! Lazarus

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Gypsy. We do celebrate for Jesus' birth, so let's rejoice and be amazed altogether.

Anonymous said...

" A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."
-Garrison Keillor

Happy Holidays to You and Your Family! :)

Anonymous said...

That's a new word for me. hehehe. Merry Christmas Gypsy! Have a joyful celebration!

Gypsy said...

Dear All,

Thanks for the comments and belated Merry Christmas--been on holiday and not having regular internet connections--which is probably a good thing (I think...hehe).

carlotta1924 said...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Gypsy! God bless! =)

Four-eyed-missy said...

Hello Gypsy.
Just dropped by to leave this e-card here. I don't have your email add kasi e.
I hope you are enjoying the ongoing festivities there. Malamig ba? Ngyahahaha. Nagtanong pa.

Anonymous said...

nothing much about this entry :) just dropping by to greet you happy new year!!!

Anonymous said...

happy new year Gypsy!