Away with you!

Thursday, January 4, 2024

I used to dread taking down Christmas ornaments - the garlands, wreaths, disassembling the tree, and boxing up the holiday china. One solution: don't decorate - get rid of the stuff. The year I wrote my dissertation I had enough capacity to hang 2 ornaments on the 10' tree: a birdcage and a globe. Putting those away made me laugh.

A second option is to enjoy the season to the max and then enjoy the year's memories while putting things into storage after the holidays. That happens today.

Thursday is normally when we hike but the rain has shifted to morning and midday. That means we'd be soaked and miserable if we go. So we cancel. So, with an unexpected day at home, why not do the "hardly ever" sort-and-clean of Christmas things? We haven't done a deep clean of the tree, ornaments, pictures, nativity, etc. since we got here 10 Christmases ago!

I was going to task our helpers with the disassembly and cleaning but once the fleecy blankets are on the floor, I start taking things off the tree. It's just after 6:00 a.m. and I forget to do the neighborhood walk that was going to replace the hike.

First. I sort ornaments by type. Each year, it's a jumble when we unpack. Ugh, are my fingers ever dusty. We strip everything off, including the garlands that make it look lush. 

W checks the lights that are burned out before carrying the tree outside. IbuS sets the shop-vac to "wind tunnel" (opposite end to vacuum) - and dusts the tree, wreaths, and other finicky things outside.

The ladies sort the ornaments after they're wiped down, wind the ribbons, and shake out the garlands as they sneeze off the dust.

"There must be more storage boxes," I insist after PakG brings down a few boxes. (He's happily out of reach, taking W to town to find replacement bulbs.) IbuS knows where everything is - she finds the bins and everything gets tucked in for the year ahead.

I reset the room for a quieter season ahead. I choose black, brown, and beige decor for a restful setting. At IKEA AS-IS on Tuesday, I found pillow covers for 45c-$2 each (reg $5-$20). They're washed and ready to go. Let's see what the new color scheme looks like.

We put the first movie night on the calendar, along with meetings mandated by our boss, and annual travel. I've ben scheduling guests to fill the gaps while we're away, planning team meetings, and starting to think about Lent / Easter (in 1.5 months). Fortunately the preaching schedule through the book of Acts is set through November, after which we're into 4 weeks of Advent ... 

Wait a minute - might not be that restful. Yet God always lavishes his time and energy on us. Besides regular work, W's re-writing a theology paper for the AG Theology Commission and writing a book chapter. I'm preparing for a 3-week class which starts in 2 weeks.

Friday

Coming into the revised decor is a pleasure. It's an early morning with meetings until noon.

Oh I love our online mastermind. I get an abundance of takeaways from meeting with group, scattered around the world. I highly recommend accountability partners and input from likeminded people. Warning: you may have new friends after meeting for a year or two.

We go downtown once more for Christmas items and have a meeting to recruit interns to volunteer opportunities. Connecting a few people within our networks? That makes me happy. Afterward, we relax with a favorite chocolate bar from our trip to Austin last year.

Saturday

4 meetings before noon ... one in a courtyard where we watch two lizards claiming their own territory.

Another meeting lies inside this beautiful door.

It's an afternoon of reflection as we prepare for Sunday, write notes for next week, and read.

Read more:

*With a free will offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. Psalm 54:6

*Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1-2

*For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. Isaiah 54:7

*[Jesus watched as] A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins. Mark 12:42 (click the link for the rest of the story.)

*But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. Galatians 4:4,5

*Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Moravian Prayer: Gentle Savior, gracious God, and loving Spirit, you are consistent in your dealings with your children. As you gather us together in worship this day, let us renew our covenant with you. Bless us, O Lord, and help us to grow in grace this day. 

We forget, O God, it is not the size that makes a gift sacred, but it is the heart of the one who gives it. May all our gifts to you be gifts that come from our hearts, and not just from our wallets. Amen.