Peace on Earth, and Good Will Toward Men

I spend the whole month of December prior to the 25th thinking about a little baby in a manger, his too-young mom overwhelmed at the thought of raising God, his not-so dad wondering if he'll ever be able to teach him anything, the wise men making a trek across hundreds of miles in the hopes of finding something greater than themselves and the shepherds who will never forget that night, but who will also never fully know its significance.

But then it comes to the actual day, and I think about a crown of thorns. I think about that baby all grown up and being beaten and nailed to a cross because He loves us so much, despite everything we have done, are doing and will continue to do against Him. He left all the majesty and glory of Heaven to take on flesh - disgusting, bloody, disease-prone humanity.

He died that we might live.

I urge you this Christmas to think beyond the manger. The story doesn't stop at Luke 2.

(Incidentally, neither do most of the great Christmas hymns. They are always looking ahead.)

1. It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3. And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!

4. For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.

Merry Christmas.

Then there were three...

We are few today.


I felt compelled to document that fact.

Lori threatened to take my camera away.

So I took a picture of myself.



Yeah. Vacation is just around the corner.

This seems like a good time to announce my (insanely ambitious and possibly quite stupid) goal for this next year. Well, one of them. Are you ready?

I want to take at least one awesome photo every day in 2012.

It's daunting, I know. I am daunted by the prospect of this. I don't know if I'll succeed. I don't know if I'll even remember come January 1. But I'm going to try. And if I only have 30-40 awesome photos by next December, that's okay. That's 30-40 more than I had before.

Getting into the Christmas spirit...

I was going to post this yesterday, but I was absolutely wrecked. Truthfully, most people in the office were, which is kinda sad when you know that the reason for this widespread fatigue is the office Christmas party that lasted until (gasp!) 8:30. I know. We'll have to figure out something different for next year. Maybe start at 4.

Anyway, I mention the party because I had a starring role in it as the Innkeeper!


Wait, what?! No, no, no. Silly me. Wrong photo.




Ain't we pretty? (In case you're wondering, it's a very modern interpretation of the Innkeeper.)

And you're probably wondering about that whole Santa Clause thing up there. To be honest, I'm still not sure how it happened. All I know is that it either solidifies my candidacy for President, or it knocks me completely out of the running. I'll just have to run at a time when Santa is in vogue. But then there's the whole Christian thing. That could be problematic. Oh well.

I was having a rough day all around yesterday. I had to apologize a couple different times for the thoughts running around in my head. It got so bad, I nearly apologized to the entire nation of France. Fortunately, I recovered before it got that far. (See, still having this problem...)

I think everyone in the office is going a little stir-crazy. We know the end is near. We can see it. We can just detect that first whiff of fresh air and freedom. As soon as I start tasting it, I'm headed for the door, regardless of what is left on my desk.

I shouldn't make it sound so bad. Things have slowed down quite a bit for me. Instead of 9,000 letters like last week, I'm down to 4,750. I'm also done sending out Christmas cards. I think. Every time I think I'm done, I think of new people to send them to. It would be funny if the people I had forgotten to send them to weren't my family.

I get stuck in a bit of a destructive pattern at this time of year. What am I destroying, you ask? My bank account. I like buying gifts for people. I like buying gifts for myself. There are a ton of sales right now. All of these things combine to be very bad for my fiscal future. Not to mention, Christmas is coming up, and the fear of duplicates should keep me from parting with hard-earned greenbacks.

I can't stop talking like this. It's like my stream-of-consciousness Christmas letter all over again. Nothing of substance passes from my fingertips. I may actually start telling deep, dark secrets if I don't end this no-

December 3

Last night, in my dreams, I packed a complete bag for Africa. I was at the airport, about to board the plane when I woke up.

I wish I knew when a cigar was just a cigar.

In other news...



Favorite Christmas song.