Tag Archives: christmas

Of Unicorns and Griffins

My wife’s youngest sister Martha (hello Maha!) likes to celebrate a rather unusual holiday. For several years now she and her family have made a concerted effort to observe with appropriate ceremony and festivity the holiday of Groundhog Day. Their celebration consists of eating lots of sausage (ground hog… get it?), singing Groundhog Day songs, and watching the Bill Murray movie about the day. Way to go, Martha!

Such an interesting idea—celebrating a holiday that others mostly ignore. There are many days like this on our calendar. Indeed, you can do a search on the internet and find that there is something being celebrated every day of the year. This runs the gamut from National Lazy Day (August 10) to Start Your Own Country Day (November 22). You can celebrate almost anything almost any day. Yet, in this abundance of serious and silly holidays, sometimes there are lesser known days of importance that are overlooked… and overlooked to our loss, I would like to say. One such holiday happens to be today.

March 25 is a day that is usually just another day on the calendar for most people. Unless it happens to be your birthday—or you are really into celebrating National Pecan Day or Waffle Day—you will probably go through the entire day without giving a thought to its significance. Yet it is indeed significant. Why? I am glad you asked.

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The Wonder of the Incarnation

Today is the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Even though in the eyes of the world Christmas is over, we understand that Christmas is a season, not day.  So we continue to celebrate.  We continue to rejoice.  We continue to celebrate the miracle of God coming to us in the form of a Babe in a manger.  We continue to wonder at the awesome truth of the Incarnation–that God took on human flesh and became Man. Continue reading

Feel Like An Outcast?

During this Advent season we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of the Savior.  As we think of the true meaning of Christmas, there are so many images that come to mind: Angels and kings, stars and wise men, mangers and midnight journeys.  One of the most enduring and poignant images is that of the humble shepherds of Bethlehem, men selected by the Almighty to witness the Messiah’s birth on this planet.  Consider the beginning of the story as found in Luke:

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” ( Luke 2:8-12 NKJV) Continue reading

Listen to Mary

For most of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be hectic and stressful.  Perhaps we would do well to consider the example of a pure, simple virgin who became the Mother of our Savior.  Her example may serve as an antidote during this busy season.

Mary said,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him…
For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”  (Luke 1:46-50, 55 NLT) Continue reading

Of Unicorns and Griffins

My wife’s youngest sister Martha (hello Maha!) likes to celebrate a rather unusual holiday. For several years now she and her family have made a concerted effort to observe with appropriate ceremony and festivity the holiday of Groundhog Day. Their celebration consists of eating lots of sausage (ground hog… get it?), singing Groundhog Day songs, and watching the Bill Murray movie about the day. Way to go, Martha!

Such an interesting idea—celebrating a holiday that others mostly ignore. There are many days like this on our calendar. Indeed, you can do a search on the internet and find that there is something being celebrated every day of the year. This runs the gamut from National Lazy Day (August 10) to Start Your Own Country Day (November 22). You can celebrate almost anything almost any day. Yet, in this abundance of serious and silly holidays, sometimes there are lesser known days of importance that are overlooked… and overlooked to our loss, I would like to say. One such holiday is coming up in just two days. And that holiday is the focus of this Trogo.

March 25 is a day that is usually just another day on the calendar for most people. Unless it happens to be your birthday—or you are really into celebrating National Pecan Day or Waffle Day—you will probably go through the entire day without giving a thought to its significance. Yet it is indeed significant. Why? I am glad you asked.

Continue reading