Chrismtas Eve 2008

It is the glad season. . . .
Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged. . . .
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things. . . .
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. . . .
We tremble at the sound. . . .
It is what we have hungered for. . . .
At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. . . .
We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud. . . .
Peace.

Maya Angelou
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem

You hear over and over not to get caught up in the details. Not to be overwhelmed by wrapping and baking because it isn't about those things. I would love to say I have achieved this peace, but alas I have not. We had an ice storm Sunday that canceled church, which in turn canceled our cantata which also canceled my confirmation class that was supposed to go shopping for the family we are helping. So, we went shopping Monday instead but it took forever and I was late getting Noah, late getting home, didn't make dinner... on and on and on. Already a day behind schedule the anxiety set in. Still more presents to buy and wrap. All of the homemade things I wanted to do.... Tuesday went by with getting the gifts to the family, organizing all of my readers and ushers and making it, albeit late, to a Christmas party for Noah. By the time we got home last night I was so incredibly tired and yet I continued to wrap and organize. Earlier Tuesday morning the dog was walking around with my favorite hat (the only hat I liked in all of Iceland that I almost missed my flight to buy)... she had chewed a huge whole in it. I was devastated. Then as I wrapped Tuesday night I looked over at her laying on the floor only to realize that she had chewed a large whole in the new shag throw rug I bought LAST WEEK! I was furious and Paul carried the dog away quickly. I melted at my inability to perform all the tasks required of me. I was teary eyed that Christmas Eve was supposed to be a holiday and my to-do list was too long to even think about enjoying it.

I tossed and turned all night dreaming about all the work I had to do. The dog woke up barking incessantly at 4 and Paul went and threatened her life which made her stop finally. At 5 Noah climbed into our bed and we tried to convince him to go back to sleep but he just sat up in a jolly voice reciting "I wake up Mommy, Mommy, you wake up!" We trudged down the steps to begin our morning ritual.

Paul looked at Noah and declared that he was slimy and threw him in the shower. But, he refused to come out, so we spent forever dragging him from the bathroom screaming and then pinned him down to get him dressed. He wanted nothing to do with his carefully selected Christmas sweater.

Almost ready to get out the door, Noah was sitting quietly on the step waiting (always a sign of danger) when Paul realized that he had his hands in Sophie's crate which was filled with doggie diahrrea, hence the 4am cry. I tried to clean it up but I just couldn't so, trooper Paul washed off Noah 100 times and then cleaned the crate and took out all of the evidence.

Paul went to turn the car on only to find more ice and another 20 minutes of scraping.

So, here I am, trying to write my last sermon for TONIGHT plus complete my baking and wrapping and letters and make sure I have a clue about the worship services this evening. All of this in the next 3 hours. And then, I have the flurry of Christmas Eve that will last until 12 am tonight. Then, I will finally find breath of fresh Christmas air as I leave the doors of the church alone, greeting the Christmas morning, hopefully with peace. Thanks Maya Angelou for the heart check.

Merry Christmas Eve.