The two pillars of the church calendar have got to be Christmas and Easter. Christ’s coming and rising are immeasurably significant events historically and spiritually that we celebrate each year. But do we give Christmas and Easter the same emphasis culturally? I think it’s pretty clear that our appreciation is lopsided.
There is no feat of humanity’s mind, heart, soul, or strength that can help us reach God. It all falls short no matter how formidable it might seem—the mind’s highest thoughts, the heart’s most passionate experiences, the soul’s deepest intuition, the body’s greatest achievements. No, God is higher, richer, deeper, greater.
There are lingering concerns about Covid to be sure, but it also seems like we are emerging from the pandemic and at least some of the fallout—like a bear might emerge from its hibernation. We’re entering the winter season on the one hand, and yet on the other hand we are emerging from the winter that was Covid.
‘Tis the season of vacation time. Or, at least looking at the time-off we have left at work and wondering how we are going to use it. More likely, we’re wondering if we are going to use it and how much we’ll be leaving on the table. Apparently, studies reveal that our nation is not great at resting.