The Light Of All Mankind

It has been an interesting week, an emotional roller coaster to some extent. Sunday began with a trip into the past for me, remembering that just a week prior to that my youngest and her two children went with my wife and I to visit my Mom. A short visit with a long drive on either side of it to close out the week of Thanksgiving.

Monday saw Juvat's story of his trip to the museum in New Zealand, particularly the exhibit focusing on eight people who participated in the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, one hundred years ago. The story of Charlotte "Lottie" Le Gallais, a nurse on a hospital ship particularly struck me, especially the thought of this woman, so far from home, hoping to see her brother, only to discover he's been killed, stayed with me all week.

I often think of war, it used to be my job to prepare for war. First to maintain the aircraft, later to maintain a system used to train aircrew. Later still, in fact my last job in the Air Force, my job was to analyze the performance of a certain aircraft's on board computer. Even now my job involves warfare. It's interesting work but the costs of war are never far from my thoughts. Nor is the need to be ready for such an eventuality. The price of peace truly is eternal vigilance.

Si vis pacem, para bellum...

Sad words but true, we prepare for the worst, and pray for the best.

Now we are in the season of light. Christmas approaches and I anticipate traveling up to see my Mom, my brothers, a sister-in-law, and a niece and nephew. My own children and their families will be at home, far away, and missed dearly.

'Tis a bittersweet time.

Still, the remembrance of the birth of a Savior is what this season is about. Not pretty lights on a tree, not gifts, nor holiday cheer. Though I do enjoy that a lot.

But I will be remembering a birth from so long ago.

And praying for that Savior to return.

We need Him in these dark times...

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 9-14

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel...