Holy Days, Holy Seasons
“And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”
Isaiah 9: 6b
Holidays. We think of that word and a number of pictures come to mind, don’t they? First and foremost a holiday is a Holy Day, a festival day set aside for people to celebrate a sacred happening. Some Holy Days spread themselves out into a series of days, an example being the “twelve days of Christmas”. Several of the world’s major religions have holy seasons during this part of the calendar year. This week we will look at a couple of these holy days/holy seasons.
Christianity, the largest of the world’s religions, actually celebrates the holy day of Christmas in a variety of ways. A significant number of Christians are known as Eastern Orthodox Christians. Eastern Christianity is significantly different from Western Christianity—both are Christian and probably would not even recognize their common lineage during this holiday season. Today we think about Eastern Christianity.
The Christmas holiday is not very significant in Eastern tradition. There is some festivity surrounding the Holy Family and the Holy Child, of whom the prophet said would have many names. Orthodox churches that are found in our Western culture (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Serbian Orthodox to give a few) may adapt some of the Western traditions, like exchanging of gifts. Generally this is a difficult struggle for these Orthodox believers who tend to be more liturgically centered, approaching the day with more regard for worship than family festivity. Our nation is filled with Western practices relating to Christmas and sometimes it is difficult to understand that some believers don’t make a “big deal” about this special holiday.
The prophet stated that the child who was born would have many names. It seems right, then, that there would be many ways to recognize his birth. Thanks to God for the gift of the Eastern Orthodox practice of Christianity.
A prayer: God, who comes to this world again and again, may we always honor the many ways your people recognize you. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
12.10.07
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Daily Devotions - Friday 12.07.07
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet realized that we develop many names for the child that is born. Likewise, we bring many names to this season of the year and each of those names is sacred.
One of the insights the prophet is telling us is that the very essence of God enters into our midst as a child. 61 years ago UNICEF was founded (December 11, 1946) and people around the world joined together to form the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Children are so important. Today, I want to share a final segment of Marian Wright Edelman’s prayer for children with you. The words can help to keep us focused on the realities of this season:
O God of beggar, beaten, abused, neglected,
Homeless, AIDS, drug, and hunger-ravaged children,
Of children who are emotionally and physically and mentally fragile,
And of children who rebel and ridicule, torment and taunt,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
O God of children of destiny and of despair, of war and of peace,
Of disfigured, diseased and dying children,
Of children without hope and of children with hope
To spare and to share,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
Have a meaningful day in your work and may your weekend be blessed with everything you need.
--Ben Keckler
12.07.07
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet realized that we develop many names for the child that is born. Likewise, we bring many names to this season of the year and each of those names is sacred.
One of the insights the prophet is telling us is that the very essence of God enters into our midst as a child. 61 years ago UNICEF was founded (December 11, 1946) and people around the world joined together to form the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Children are so important. Today, I want to share a final segment of Marian Wright Edelman’s prayer for children with you. The words can help to keep us focused on the realities of this season:
O God of beggar, beaten, abused, neglected,
Homeless, AIDS, drug, and hunger-ravaged children,
Of children who are emotionally and physically and mentally fragile,
And of children who rebel and ridicule, torment and taunt,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
O God of children of destiny and of despair, of war and of peace,
Of disfigured, diseased and dying children,
Of children without hope and of children with hope
To spare and to share,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
Have a meaningful day in your work and may your weekend be blessed with everything you need.
--Ben Keckler
12.07.07
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Daily Devotions - Thursday 12.06.07
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet realized that we develop many names for the child that is born. We bring many names to this season of the year and each of those names is sacred. The insightful prophet is telling us that the very essence of God enters into our midst as a child. 61 years ago UNICEF was founded (December 11, 1946) and people around the world joined together to form the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Children are so important. During the rest of this week, I want to share with you excerpts of Marian Wright Edelman’s prayer for children.
O God of the children of Somalia, Sarajevo, South Africa and South Carolina,
Of Albania, Alabama, Bosnia, and Boston,
Of Crawcow and Cairo, Chicago and Croatia,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
O God of Black and Brown and White and Albino
Children and those all mixed together,
Of children who are rich and poor and in between,
Of children who speak English and Spanish
And Russian and Hmong and languages our ears cannot discern,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
--Ben Keckler
12.06.07
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet realized that we develop many names for the child that is born. We bring many names to this season of the year and each of those names is sacred. The insightful prophet is telling us that the very essence of God enters into our midst as a child. 61 years ago UNICEF was founded (December 11, 1946) and people around the world joined together to form the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Children are so important. During the rest of this week, I want to share with you excerpts of Marian Wright Edelman’s prayer for children.
O God of the children of Somalia, Sarajevo, South Africa and South Carolina,
Of Albania, Alabama, Bosnia, and Boston,
Of Crawcow and Cairo, Chicago and Croatia,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
O God of Black and Brown and White and Albino
Children and those all mixed together,
Of children who are rich and poor and in between,
Of children who speak English and Spanish
And Russian and Hmong and languages our ears cannot discern,
Help us to love and respect and protect them all.
--Ben Keckler
12.06.07
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Daily Devotions - Wednesday 12.05.07
“Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
and the glory of God shall be revealed among us.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet certainly was filled with great expectations, it seems to me. I would add that we often deal with great expectations—sometimes it is our expectation of others, sometimes it is others’ expectation of us. Here is a little story I've shared with you before about great expectations:
***
On the first day of school, a teacher was glancing over the roll.
She noticed a number after each student’s name, such as 154, 136 or 143.
“Wow! Look at these IQs,” she thought.
“What a terrific class”
The teacher promptly determined to work harder with this class
than with any other she ever had.
Throughout the year, she came up with innovative lessons that she thought
would challenge the students, because she didn’t want them to get bored with work that was too easy.
Her plan worked!
The class outperformed all the other classes that she taught in the usual way.
Then, during the last marking period of the year, she discovered what those numbers really were:
The locker numbers for each student.
***
We can make many assessments about this story. Consider it an example of “Great Expectations.” I hope you will have a good day experiencing “Great Expectations” in your life.
--Ben Keckler
12.05.07
every mountain and hill made low;
and the glory of God shall be revealed among us.”
--A voice of a prophet
The prophet certainly was filled with great expectations, it seems to me. I would add that we often deal with great expectations—sometimes it is our expectation of others, sometimes it is others’ expectation of us. Here is a little story I've shared with you before about great expectations:
***
On the first day of school, a teacher was glancing over the roll.
She noticed a number after each student’s name, such as 154, 136 or 143.
“Wow! Look at these IQs,” she thought.
“What a terrific class”
The teacher promptly determined to work harder with this class
than with any other she ever had.
Throughout the year, she came up with innovative lessons that she thought
would challenge the students, because she didn’t want them to get bored with work that was too easy.
Her plan worked!
The class outperformed all the other classes that she taught in the usual way.
Then, during the last marking period of the year, she discovered what those numbers really were:
The locker numbers for each student.
***
We can make many assessments about this story. Consider it an example of “Great Expectations.” I hope you will have a good day experiencing “Great Expectations” in your life.
--Ben Keckler
12.05.07
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Daily Devotions - Tuesday 12.04.07
“Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
and the glory of God shall be revealed among us.”
--A voice of a prophet
This word of hope served to inspire George Handel in the composition of “Messiah”. This word of hope needs to be shared today as we continue a week of work. The closing days of last week were some of the most demanding days I have experienced in recent months. There seems to be an abundance of people, patients and families, who feel like everything is crashing in on them. Many of them have unloaded on staff and it is only natural that we would feel the pressures of the workplace crashing in on us. It is the rhythm of the season.
The word is clear that the glory of God will be revealed among us. It will be revealed when we are willing to receive the “stuff” that has to be unloaded on us and then release that same “stuff” (plus the other additional “stuff” that comes from receiving another’s “stuff”). It will be revealed when we stand firm in our commitment to deliver quality healthcare in the most difficult of situations. It will be revealed when we remain compassionate when compassion is the only straw left.
This week will be demanding. God be with you as you reveal the glory of the Lord God in your words, thoughts and deeds.
A prayer: Great and mighty God, act in us and through us, especially when the pressures cause us to feel overwhelmed. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
12.04.07
every mountain and hill made low;
and the glory of God shall be revealed among us.”
--A voice of a prophet
This word of hope served to inspire George Handel in the composition of “Messiah”. This word of hope needs to be shared today as we continue a week of work. The closing days of last week were some of the most demanding days I have experienced in recent months. There seems to be an abundance of people, patients and families, who feel like everything is crashing in on them. Many of them have unloaded on staff and it is only natural that we would feel the pressures of the workplace crashing in on us. It is the rhythm of the season.
The word is clear that the glory of God will be revealed among us. It will be revealed when we are willing to receive the “stuff” that has to be unloaded on us and then release that same “stuff” (plus the other additional “stuff” that comes from receiving another’s “stuff”). It will be revealed when we stand firm in our commitment to deliver quality healthcare in the most difficult of situations. It will be revealed when we remain compassionate when compassion is the only straw left.
This week will be demanding. God be with you as you reveal the glory of the Lord God in your words, thoughts and deeds.
A prayer: Great and mighty God, act in us and through us, especially when the pressures cause us to feel overwhelmed. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
12.04.07
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