My Slow Takes (Vol. 126)

1. The Temptations released their number one single on December 21, 1964, “My Girl.” I was a senior in high school.

2. This is a picture of our Advent Wreath.

3. I was part of the setup crew for our nativity scene at church. We have multiple crews, each working on a specific part of the project.

4. Peter O’Toole reached his final journey last Saturday at age 81. My favorite movies were “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Lion in Winter” and “Becket.” NPR had an excellent article on him. 

5. Just in case you missed Steve Givens blog last week. He wrote a beautiful Christmas reading, “The Journey Begins.”

“The journey begins, not at Nazareth as Joseph and Mary prepare for their trip to the City of David, but at a time much earlier.

It begins with darkness…and God…and the Word.

It begins at creation, when God called forth light, life and those made in His own image.

It begins with a man and a woman, banished from the garden and crying out for a new source of life and salvation.

It begins with a son, standing over the slain body of his brother and listening to the sound of blood crying out from the ground.

It begins with a great flood and the promise of a rainbow.

It begins on a mountain top, with a father’s hand ready to sacrifice his son.

It begins with a child, drawn like water from the river by a Pharaoh’s daughter.

It begins with a bush, burning but not consumed, on a small parcel of holy ground.

It beings with plagues and the deaths of first-born children, with years of wandering in the desert, with manna from heaven and water flowing from rocks, with towers of flame and parted seas, with covenants and commandments and temples and sacred meals.

It begins with songs of praise, psalms of thanksgiving, and words of wisdom for those wise enough to listen.

It begins with the words of prophets, warning of coming destruction and telling of the coming of a Messiah.

It begins with a voice in the wilderness crying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

It begins with the stirrings of life inside a chosen woman.

It begins on the road to Bethlehem…”

6. “Don’t be afraid to go to the Sacrament of Confession, where you will meet Jesus who forgives you.”        Pope Francis

Tuesday evening was “Reconciliation Service” at our church. Father John led a short service of readings and reflection. We had eight priests in attendance for personal confession. I removed the dust of sins and polished my heart.

7. Merry Christmas from Dee and I. 

Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.