time of wonder

 I was reading in chapter fourteen of Revelation; there are angels overseeing the elements - it spoke of one who has authority over fire. It would be handy to remember that, in case of a fire! I find this kind of information very interesting. Which brings me to a book I got for Christmas, Living in Wonder, by Rod Dreher. He speaks of how and why we’ve come to a point of being totally unaware, or even ignorant of anything beyond what we can apprehend with our senses. It’s a big interest of mine. You know I love fairy tales and such.

"We... are proud of our mastery of the material world, but it has made us miserable, because we no longer feel at home here." 

There was snow on the ground, and then we got a little more on Christmas Eve morning. Everyone seemed pleased about it. We went to our cousins at the shore on Christmas Day, and they had none, but it was still here when we came back home. :)  Now, it's gone; we are going to be in the fifties for three days. A varied closet is a must around here. 

It's the fourth day of Christmas. I've got to find the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on the BBC, since I was working when it was live. I never want to miss it! 

I was thinking the other day about the garlands of popcorn and cranberries some people make in the winter, but it seems so tedious. And I've never known anyone who actually did it, so I don't know if the creatures actually like it. So I popped some corn, and stirred it around with peanut butter, then threw it out on the snow on a cold day. It was after the squirrels had been dining, and nobody seemed to notice it. I'm not sure they want it. 

Rod Dreher's book has many examples of different individuals which he hopes will illustrate his point. Marshall McLuhan (if you're my age, you'll know the name):

"I never came into the church as a person who was being taught. I came in on my knees. That is the only way in. When people start praying, they need truths, that's all. You don't come into the church by ideas and concepts, and you cannot leave by mere disagreement. It has to be a loss of faith, a loss of participation. We can tell when people leave the church: they have quit praying."

                                                                     -  from Living in Wonder