In the Bleak Midwinter

Tomorrow the reports of more snow have infiltrated the airwaves.  It's the mid of winter, and while the days seem to be getting longer, the snow remains.  More tomorrow.   The winter doldrums have set in. A rather disheartening week at school with a lot of my students not ready for their presentations.  While choosing a poet to discuss is not the most exciting area of literature studies for many students, there IS always the quirky lifestyles of Poe and Ginsberg, the dark suicidal days of Sexton and Dickensen, the inspiration of Kipling and the Brownings to get them through.  I sometimes forget how rich a good poem is whether it comes from the dark minds of Eminem or Poe or of flowing words like Tupac, Frost or Sandburg, the words are so powerful, so awesome (using the real word here not the contemporary connotation of it). Through gentle words Frost takes us on a journey through a wood or the importance of swinging on birch trees.  "Nothing gold can stay."

Always in the bleak midwinter, we start our musical at church. We are auditioning for Brigadoon, and it's amazing what talent finds it way to be involved in our rag tag productions.  As I read the script again and again trying to find the director's muse, it's great fun to imagine how it will all play out, how getting the right people in the right spot at the right time will happen.  I am always tentatively saying to myself' "You putz, why did you do this again?  Wouldn't it be nice to be without play rehearsals for ONE spring?"  I can't do it- there is something the drives that feeling to " Hey Kids, let's put on a show!"  Brigadoon- be there this April.

Christmas finally came down today at my house- once again a sign of the bleak midwinter. The time of brightly colored lights and festive decorations gets packed away for another year. My wife works very hard to make the house incredibly festive for the Christmas season- she truly makes Christmas at our house.  From the moment you walk in and through the house, the bathroom, the bedrooms, Christmas is everywhere. It's an amazing transformation, and it's all her creation, and it's all her work that gets repacked into the 20+ boxes of Christmas decorations and tradition. I miss all the lights already!

In the bleak winter, my uncle passed away three years ago today.  I indulged myself last week, but this week, I am wallowing in the blessings of that man's life. His wife, my Aunt Diana, is hilarious. I have the greatest conversations with her. They make me laugh (a lot) and cry. I understand why he loved her all those years. I need to call her more. It gave me my cousin, Michelle, who is equally amazing! She is bright, energetic, loving, and also as funny as her mom.  How rich my life is because of her.  I am told that that there is a picture of her dad and me in 1968, anxious to see it!  His life gave me heritage- who I am and who I will always be! His influence made a huge impact on me- I am sure in heaven he is barking out something that I needs to get done with the wink of his eye and his cocked up turned smile.

I went to this unique worship service again on Saturday night at Oak Hill Baptist called The Point- truly a rock and roll spiritual experience Sat. night Christian rock concert with a sermon and simple honesty.  While I miss absolution and communion, I was renewed in the service. Pr. Jeremiah Rice is a one of those honest ministers who lays things on the table without wallowing in pretense. Thanks Pastor- was awesome.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

Over and Out 

Keith