What is a 'second" worth?

It is New Year's Eve 2008. And sometime before MIDNIGHT there will be added a 'leap second' to the clock! When young, my parents asked all of us to write a letter to ourselves. to leave it on his desk, and he would hide them for one year, to be delivered to us on New Year's Eve... I have just finished the letter for 2009, and have enveloped it and sealed... I am sitting here on the 12th floor of the towers gazing out upon the city of Melbourne, FL

i am remembering this night through the years...when Heather and Jennifer would make up menus for Phyllis and I, and they served as waitresses at our New Year's eve Party and we allowed them to stay to watch Times Square at midnight...now, the only thing that wakes us, here at the Towers at New Year's eve, is our bladders, or the bottle of metamucil...

On New Year's Eve 1992, Phyllis and I decided that the New Year could not be worse than 1992 when so many friends had died...It was at 1am when I was called, as Chaplain at the Vineyard Hospital, to respond to a family in crisis...Little did I realize as I kissed Phyllis and wished her a Happy New Year what our lives would experience in the New Year...Upon arriving at the Emergency Room I found a chaotic scene as I was told there had been a fire, and a young mother had been burnt to death...I didn't know what to say...someone asked me in the wee morning hours if it was better to know what was about to happen?

I said, that if we knew, our lives would be lived in such a way as to prevent, rather than to enjoy the moments that we had together...As I sit here with the pain from a recent stroke throbbing on my left side, I would not dare prophesy what is going to happen in 2009.. Rather, as I await the unlimited possibilities of a New Year, I ask God to bless my family, and friends, and help me to enjoy each moment of the journey...Without an end, there can be no beginning...

Christmas....2008

As I have sat here gazing at the city below, I began thinking of the wealth of Christmas memories which are mine...the excitement when I was young, of lining up to march into the 'gifts' on camera no less,,,and when my own daughters were young, and I would buy one gift for them, that was a surprise gift...It was important to me, and I hope to them.

I read Jennifer's blog from earlier this month in which she was expressing disappointment that she wouldn't be able to go to NY to Matt's family when all the family would be together, and as a preacher would do, thought of a sermon that I preached one Advent Sunday "The Disappointments of Christmas." and I thought as I read her blog how I could help make this a memorable Christmas for she, Matt, Kyra and Lucas and for Heather...

One never stops thinking like a father, so I arranged to fly to Hartford on Christmas, to surprise them, and to fly back to Florida the next day. I thought that might help them, and I would get to see them.
They had been disappointed so often as little girls, that I couldn't find more time to be a good father.
And then I recently received an email from Jennifer in which she talked about Heather's coming to Ct. and then on Christmas morning they would have driven to New YORK. Oh what a surprise I would have had calling them from the airport...

I cancelled my plans, because they had made their plans, and as it turned out, I have developed more problems with my swallowing, and so am trying to save my throat...but when I was asked, why I didn't tell them of my plans, I replied that I wanted to SURPRISE them...

I am blest with so many memories of Christmas...the Santa Claus suit which was left on the end of my bed in RI and I wore allll day with the rubber mask...the last Christmas that Phyllis was with us, and my parents had driven up...or the Amy Grant Christmas concert, that the family gave to me that I might enjoy...and of all the people who have brought Christmas into my heart by journeying into my midst... I wanted to surprise my daughters, and it was exciting to think about, even though common sense says My health wouldn't allow me to do this...but I would have.

I will sit by the window here on the 12th floor looking at the lights below...and will thank God for the Stars which have reluctantly been placed in the Heavens lighting our way to the Christ child.
May Christmas be a blessing to you, your family and friends, to a world which is waiting for Him to come...

As we draw near

as we draw near to Bethlehem

A

December 13,1970

It's hard to wait for God! That is what the days of Advent offer to us - the opportunity to wait...
For new parents to be, there are the endless questions: How do you feel? Are you ready yet? and the young mother feeling life within her tires of the questions... We had traipsed through the woods to find the Christmas tree..I broke three stands, as she directed me as to how the lights should go on.
She rose and went upstairs "to rest because tonight's the night." Though the baby wasn't 'due' until Christmas Eve, she knew better...

I worked on my sermon as the snow fell outside, and went up to bed at 12:30A.M. I had just fallen asleep and she said "it's time" I tried to convince her that it wasn't, but what did I know?? I put on my red sweatsuit, went out and shoveled a foot of snow...after calling the Dr. and I helped her out to the car...

Up until that moment we THOUGHT??? we knew the message of Christmas...as we drove through unplowed snow, there was mounting excitement...I drove home to change into my preaching clothes unable to be with her in labor or delivery room! I had just arrived back at the Hospital, when she appeared...Phyllis waited for the cry which was delayed in coming...and then the baby cried....

That was 38 years ago today when HEATHER LYNNE arrived and brought alive the message of Christmas...In those moments, we dared to imagine what joy would be ours...little did we know in that moment, what joy she, and her sister would bring to our lives...HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER.
SURELY A STAR IS DANCING IN THE SKY AS WE CELEBRATE THE DAY YOU WERE BORN...

Waiting can be difficult

This year Christmas will be different...in that both of my parents have died in little over a year's time.
Yet it is the same...Memories of Christmas when I was small, and when Phyllis and I were first married, and when Heather and Jennifer were young, tumble over in my mind's eyes. Not that long ago, Heather, Jennifer and family, gave me a ticket to AMY GRANT/VINCE GILL Christmas show...they have no idea how precious that gift was to me...or the December 38 years ago when Heather was born on a snowy Sunday morning, and gave new meaning to Phyllis and I...

This year we have, as a family, much for which to be grateful...the gift, that both nana and Father gave to each of us keeps giving and giving...This year IS different, for there are so many people who are hurting...many have lost loved ones, their jobs, health Insurance, many have lost their homes...A friend said to me..."sometimes being together is the most precious gift of all..." This year I will spend Christmas Day visiting Nursing Homes, people who feel forgotten and lost...I dare to think that the most precious gift I have to offer is the gift which my parents gave to me...that the most precious gift isn't something that is bought..or what we cannot do, but rather taking a glimpse into the Heavens where the STAR still shines, bringing hope, peace, and love ...