Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest Your weary ones. Bless Your dying ones. Soothe Your suffering ones. Shield your joyous ones, and all for Your love`s sake. Amen.

Christmastide, Sunday – the Night Office

Jeannie’s motto is that new (or rejuvenated) plants need three years before they hit their stride. The first year they sleep, the second they creep, and the third they leap. This year, we’re definitely leaping.

First we had daffodils, hyacinth, and lilacs. Then the tulips came. Followed by yellow, purple, and white irises. And now peonies and roses. I’ve enjoyed photographing all of them, particularly when it comes to their details — close up shots that show their dashes of color or marvelous ornate designs that one would miss if they didn’t look closely.

What’s caught my eye isn’t just the beauty of what’s in front of me, but the evidence of God’s ability (and desire) to take great care in all details of His creation. Seeing these amazing details in the plant world makes the fact that every hair on my head is numbered more real and believable.

Wednesday night our friends Scott & Jane organized a Christian Seder Haggadah. It took the traditional Jewish Passover meal and put it in the light of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. The most poignant part to me was near the beginning where we dipped parsley in salt water and ate. The leader said:

Tonight, we are not simply celebrating Springtime or love. We are celebrating the freedom and wonderful deliverance that God brought to us as slaves in Egypt. But we do not forget that life in Egypt was hard and filled with pain and suffering and tears. Let us never forget that the struggle for freedom begins in suffering, and that life is sometimes immersed in tears.

As I partook of the salty tears, I was overwhelmed with the remembrance of not only my own tears, but those of dear friends. For some, their suffering has subsided and wounds have been healed. For others, their cheeks are still moist.

This is the only time, in my memory, where I had partaken in a physical remembrance of tears. I was glad to not have missed it.

Lent starts tomorrow. Christians around the world will begin a time of reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. A few weeks ago, I read on a friend’s blog about a challenge her pastor gave to the congregation to pick one person to pray for during the 40 days of lent that they felt was beyond hope and redemption, or as she put it, the hard cases. The challenge struck a chord and have decided to “give up” time normally spent on myself, to pray for the hard cases. I have a list forming in my head, and not surprisingly, there’s more than one.

From Christmastide:

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

O God, you have caused the holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light; Grant that I, who have known the mystery of the Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Advent season often whizzes by me so fast, that Christmas Eve arrives and I’m saddened that I haven’t been anticipating or preparing for the celebration of Christ’s birth. I remembered seeing Elizabeth recommend “Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany” and thought it could be a good way for Andy and I to intentionally prepare for Christmas. There’s a liturgy of prayers, hymns, and readings with one of my favorite pieces being the “prayer appointed for the week.” It’s a prayer that is repeated three times a day for seven days. It’s been great to have such a concise and robust prayer dig dipper into your heart throughout the week. I thought I’d post this week’s, for those who’d like to join us:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.