". . . little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver . . ."

(William Shakespeare's Othello, I.iii.88-90)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Random Winter Thoughts

When someone tells you "I'm sorry" it's usually nice to respond with "I forgive you."

I have no problem with respecting diversity. But is it really worth "celebrating"? Doesn't it make more sense to celebrate the things that we have in common, that bind us together, and that we share rather than the things that separate us?

The older I get the more I prefer "learning" to "education." Learning is something we do for ourselves; education is something that is done to us.

If you have ever doubted that God has a sense of humor, consider the snowstorms complicating both the Global Warming Summit in Copenhagen and the Democratic-controlled Senate's effort to pass a health care bill before Christmas.

The Andy Williams Christmas album is one of the best ever recorded, right up there with the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas and Take 6's He Is Christmas. Christmas is not complete in our house without all three.

Laundry and dishes do not take a Christmas vacation.

I'm really glad our photo greeting cards say "Love always" rather than "Merry Christmas," seeing as how they probably aren't going to be delivered until January.

Our Christmas gift list has been getting smaller the last few years. It will be nice when it starts getting bigger again.

I love having kids who can cook supper.

I need to go Christmas shopping tomorrow. It's the last Saturday before Christmas. Someone tell me that it's going to put me in the Christmas spirit to get out in the snow and fight the crowds. Go ahead. I'm waiting. Tell me.

The tree is up. That may be the only decorating we do this year, and that's okay.

I have a totally amazing family.

My kids have totally amazing friends.

Sometimes I wonder if I have the beginnings of Alzheimer's. Seriously. My stupid quotient (the number of things I do wrong divided by the total number of things I do) is getting higher by the hour.

I think anger may be the most difficult emotion to deal with. When you're sad you can cry. When you're happy you can laugh. When you love someone you can show it. But you're not supposed to act on anger. You're just supposed to be nice and behave yourself and keep it all in. And when the person who has offended you is no longer around for you to talk to about the offense, what is one to do? No wonder so many of us have ulcers and insomnia and addictions and tumors and headaches and [fill in the blank with the malady or syndrome of your choice].

Christians write the best music.

Jesus came for sinners. Jesus came for me.

9 comments:

Elephantschild said...

I would go with you shopping. We could battle the crowds together.

IggyAntiochus said...

If you have ever doubted that God has a sense of humor, consider the snowstorms complicating both the Global Warming Summit in Copenhagen and the Democratic-controlled Senate's effort to pass a health care bill before Christmas.

There was a day a while back where all blogger were supposed to write about "global climate change." I did not get a chance to blog that day, but if I did, here is what I would have written.

Today all bloggers are supposed to write about global climate change. The weather in Chicago today is unseasonably COLD.

:)

Cheryl said...

Iggy, are you in Chicago? Do I know you in real life?

Cheryl said...

EC, come on up! Bring your biggest purse loaded with rocks and your highest, pointiest stilettos and we'll take 'em on!

IggyAntiochus said...

I am in Chicago, but we have never met (I don't think). Actually, for being a music guy, I have never met your husband either.

Elephantschild said...

I'll sharpen my elbows, Cheryl.

IggyAntiochus, you should make a trip sometime to Cheryl's church. It's a real treat.

IggyAntiochus said...

I was at Evening Prayer there once. It's hard to get out there on a Sunday, though.

Cheryl said...

Next time you visit, come up and introduce yourself!

IggyAntiochus said...

I actually didn't know anyone back then! I am just finding the blogosphere in the last year or so. I saw Mr. Unvarnish'd at the NID convention last spring, but did not get a chance to say hi.

Now for today's LOL. For being a music guy, I sometimes describe myself as "functional illiterate." Reading is not my forte. I never complete a book. Also, I tend to think in the literal instead of the abstract. So, my brain has told me that I was reading "A Round Unvarnish'd TABLE." It took a few months, but I know better now :)