Merry Christmas, world.

I'm Christian, so I say Merry Christmas. It's not meant to offend. It's meant as a small token of God's peace to be passed to others. If I know I am talking to someone who is Jewish, I would say Happy Hannukah. I wouldn't know when it was most appropriate to say Happy Kwanzaa. Ramadan happens at a different time of year, so that's not appropriate at this season. I could say Happy Holidays, but the holidays are religious ones, so I would rather be specific.

It was a long day of picking folks up from the airport, eating, opening presents, talking, nearly napping, etc. It's after 11pm and this is the first real quiet time I've had all day. (Everyone else has gone to bed!) I am introverted, so without times like this every so often, I go a bit nuts or get grouchy. Like my laptop, I need recharging too and sleep is not the only solution. Good luck to all of us who try to find the quiet time at this particular season of the year.

I am finding my allegiances of faith becoming less about the congregation in particular and more about the work God is calling me (all of us) to do. I love to attend Christmas Eve worship at the church I grew up in. This year I felt less attached to it. It was good, but not as fulfilling as before. I could have worshiped with friends and relatives in a nearby town. I could have driven a bit further to worship with our "home" congregation an hour away. I could have sought out my old pastor and good friend's church as a worship source. I opted for the tried and true; most of my family did, too.

These things prey on me today. They consume my deeper thinking. What is God asking me to consider that I have avoided up until now? Where might I be this time next year? It's all unknown but moving slowly towards resolution. God's time isn't mine. I am continually learning patience.

God's grace and peace be with you today and always.

Shalom.