Andrea Handley
So, I sat down, as I usually do, with a blank page in front of me, waiting for a thought as to what to write for a Dean’s column this month. And my only thought for the last ten minutes has been, “I don’t have time for this. I’ve got concerts details to plan, practicing to do, people to contact for rehearsals, parties to plan.” Then there was one other thought: “Who among the recipients of this are going to have the time to read it anyway?”
But now that I’ve sat another ten minutes or so, I have one short thought – since you and I both need “short” right now. And it’s this: aside from the wonderful spiritual and theological depth that Christmas affords each year, it has another delightful impact on our lives. There’s nothing else like it really. Each year, we are given the opportunity to not just remember, but to relive past events of our lives. Through familiar sights (trees, lights, treasured decorations), familiar smells (pine, cinnamon, hot cider), familiar tastes (eggnog, turkey and dressings) and familiar sounds (music!) we are transported in a very tangible way to last year, ten years ago, or childhood, in an instant. That’s a real gift.
OK, now I have one more thought. The last, I promise, because I know you’re all as busy as I am. We have the privilege this month of being involved in bringing people back to church who only come once or twice a year. And a big reason they’ll be coming is the music – all a part of the remembering and reliving. So here’s praying that it will be a wonderful season of reliving for us all.
And I’ll see you all at my house on January 4th, when we’ll all have a bit more time hopefully, to party! Look for an Evite within a few weeks!