Greetings Beloved Readers,
I strive to be clear in all that I say and will always own my failures to do so. Recently Avalon related that my statements on here made her feel hurt and angry. She thinks that I think lowly of her. Nothing could further from the truth.
I will begin by apologizing and asking her forgiveness for making her feel anything but loved by me. I do believe that her actions are wrong and that she is far from the truth in them, but I do not think her evil, low, or unlovable in any way.
My heart is broken and I daily miss the love of my life. I realize that who I am is neither easy to know or live with. I realize that I failed in many ways to be the best husband I could be to her but I have done nothing worthy of her abandonment and exit from our marriage. We disagree and she is gone. I love her no less nor do I wish her ill.
Since I hurt her by words on this venue, it is on this venue that ask her forgiveness and apologize with all my heart. For those of you who would know my heart in this matter, I refer to someone dear to me who has left this stage for a grander one. You can watch the Video or just read the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMfv9HALUro
Believe in Me
By Dan Fogelberg
If I could ever say it right
And reach your hostage heart
Despite the doubts you harbor
Then you might
Come to believe in me.
The life I lead is not the kind
That gives a woman peace of mind
I only hope someday youll find
That you can believe in me.
Those other loves that
Came before
Mean nothing to me anymore
But you can never be quite sure
And will not believe in me.
Too many hearts have been broken
Failing to trust what they feel
But trust isnt something
Thats spoken
And loves never wrong
When its real.
If I could only do one thing
Then I would try to write and sing
A song that ends your questioning
And makes you believe in me.
Too many hearts have been broken
Failing to trust what they feel
But trust isnt something
Thats spokenAnd loves never wrong
When its real.
If I could only do one thing
Then I would try to write and sing
A song that ends your questioning
And makes you believe in me
Oh, you can believe in me.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
18 January 2009
13 January 2009
Some Through the Fire
Greetings dear Readers,
I learned last night of a disaster that befell Toccoa Falls College, the school where I earned my baccalaureate degree and after graduate school taught there for many years. I love the place as it is a beautiful and graceful campus fit for learning and spiritual growth. On the campus is a magnificent water fall. Access to these falls was monitored by a gate cottage that held a gift shop, restaurant, and faculty offices.
Around two in the morning the building, Gate Cottage burned to the ground. Several professors lost all the contents of their offices with a new term looming on the horizon. This school has survived so many trials. The professors and staff there that I know are good people who sacrifice better pay and a better lifestyle to teach young Christ followers headed for ministry, teaching, counseling, and business. As I read the story I reflected on how many lovely memories I have of that place.
My children spent most of their childhood there. I still follow the lives of those I taught there. I also experienced great loss there. Some of that loss I am just now beginning to feel. What I would say to those now in crisis is simple and much better said in the words of an old hymn by George A. Young.
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity's day,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
The thing is that God does give a song and we must choose to sing it. My prayers are with my friends and I will choose to sing on their behalf.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Greetings dear Readers,
I learned last night of a disaster that befell Toccoa Falls College, the school where I earned my baccalaureate degree and after graduate school taught there for many years. I love the place as it is a beautiful and graceful campus fit for learning and spiritual growth. On the campus is a magnificent water fall. Access to these falls was monitored by a gate cottage that held a gift shop, restaurant, and faculty offices.
Around two in the morning the building, Gate Cottage burned to the ground. Several professors lost all the contents of their offices with a new term looming on the horizon. This school has survived so many trials. The professors and staff there that I know are good people who sacrifice better pay and a better lifestyle to teach young Christ followers headed for ministry, teaching, counseling, and business. As I read the story I reflected on how many lovely memories I have of that place.
My children spent most of their childhood there. I still follow the lives of those I taught there. I also experienced great loss there. Some of that loss I am just now beginning to feel. What I would say to those now in crisis is simple and much better said in the words of an old hymn by George A. Young.
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity's day,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
The thing is that God does give a song and we must choose to sing it. My prayers are with my friends and I will choose to sing on their behalf.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
12 January 2009
Clean and Organize
Greetings Beloved Readers,
Today is both National Clean Off Your Desk Day and Organize Your Home Day. Trying to do both in one day seems like trying to eat an elephant. I have two desks that both need cleaning. We have not yet put up Christmas and there is heaps to do around the house.
I like order and neatness but I seem to disturb it more than I contribute to it. I love the feeling of walking into a space that is neat and proper, but it is my entry that seems to diminish its order. It will be an easy thing to unclutter my desk. It will be a far different thing to keep it that way. I also find that I function better in an environment that is a little cluttered.
Perhaps we are all authors of chaos. We bring our own sense of order to things. For me it is a bit of clutter, but as that bit grows it quickly reaches a frustrating mass. We impose things on every environment to make the place more suitable to our likes, wants, and needs. Nothing is wrong with this as long as we do not step on the needs of others in the process.
When it comes to changing the way we do things, however, I think we take on too much. We resolve to change major things but they quickly become daunting and elephantine. It is a daunting thing to say I am going to keep my desk clean all year. It is another thing to start by putting away papers as soon as I am done with them. I know I cannot give up all sweets, but I can stop eating carbs after 7 pm and not before 6 am. I cannot promise to be the man I should always be but I can determine in individual situations to do what is right in that situation.
I do not know what you need to change but I know how you can change it. Take small steps. Adjust little things to make what you do more the way you wish it to be. I know I am going to. There is after all a way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Today is both National Clean Off Your Desk Day and Organize Your Home Day. Trying to do both in one day seems like trying to eat an elephant. I have two desks that both need cleaning. We have not yet put up Christmas and there is heaps to do around the house.
I like order and neatness but I seem to disturb it more than I contribute to it. I love the feeling of walking into a space that is neat and proper, but it is my entry that seems to diminish its order. It will be an easy thing to unclutter my desk. It will be a far different thing to keep it that way. I also find that I function better in an environment that is a little cluttered.
Perhaps we are all authors of chaos. We bring our own sense of order to things. For me it is a bit of clutter, but as that bit grows it quickly reaches a frustrating mass. We impose things on every environment to make the place more suitable to our likes, wants, and needs. Nothing is wrong with this as long as we do not step on the needs of others in the process.
When it comes to changing the way we do things, however, I think we take on too much. We resolve to change major things but they quickly become daunting and elephantine. It is a daunting thing to say I am going to keep my desk clean all year. It is another thing to start by putting away papers as soon as I am done with them. I know I cannot give up all sweets, but I can stop eating carbs after 7 pm and not before 6 am. I cannot promise to be the man I should always be but I can determine in individual situations to do what is right in that situation.
I do not know what you need to change but I know how you can change it. Take small steps. Adjust little things to make what you do more the way you wish it to be. I know I am going to. There is after all a way to eat an elephant…one bite at a time.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
06 January 2009
Epiphany – Apostrophe
Greetings Beloved Readers,
Smee: I've just had an apostrophe.
Captain Hook: I think you mean an epiphany.
Smee: No... lightning has just struck my brain.
Captain Hook: Well, that must hurt.
Very often I have ideas that creep into my mind slowly after much thinking, careful researching, and zealous pipe pondering (for those of you who care nothing in the bowl but regular old Cavendish). Once in a great while though, I have an apostrophe err…epiphany.
Today is the feast of the Epiphany. It is the day we remember the visit of the Magi. So much tradition has grown up around the simple statements made by Matthew in the second chapter his Gospel. This was a big deal. At Christmas we sing We Three Kings and set up Melchior, Balthazar, and Caspar around the manger. Do we really consider the impact of this bit of the Advent story? I thought that on the Feast of Epiphany you might benefit from some observations about the visit of the Magi.
They were men of science: In those days there was not a distinction between Astronomy and Astrology.
They left their homes in search of a great King whose birth was heralded by the stars.
They brought expensive gifts to honor this King and inquired at Jerusalem, Israel’s capital for the new King’s whereabouts.
It was not just Herod the Great who was disturbed by this news but all of Jerusalem.
Herod feigned friendship to the Magi and intended to murder this new King, an obvious rival
God warned the Magi to avoid Herod on their journey home
A direct result of their visit was the murder of all the toddlers and infants in Bethlehem
In many parts of the world today, children are awakening to gifts left by either the Magi or Befana (see her story here http://village.fortunecity.com/radclyffe/541/SoulKitchen/Folklore/folklore.html). Perhaps a simple way to extend our Christmas into the New Year and avoid the post Christmas let down is to hold back a small gift or sweet treat for our children and loved ones and surprise them with it on Epiphany or Twelfth Night. We know that the timing we assign to all of this is traditional and not factual. We know that we know very little about the Magi and even less about the events surrounding their visit to Jesus. We also know that they undertook a perilous journey and went into great danger to honor the Advent of Christ. I encourage you to find a way to remember that men who did not need to left their homes to honor the birth of Christ and in some way share that wonder of that with your loved ones. Their journey was significant enough to God for him to include it in the Gospels. That alone makes it worth commemorating.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Smee: I've just had an apostrophe.
Captain Hook: I think you mean an epiphany.
Smee: No... lightning has just struck my brain.
Captain Hook: Well, that must hurt.
Very often I have ideas that creep into my mind slowly after much thinking, careful researching, and zealous pipe pondering (for those of you who care nothing in the bowl but regular old Cavendish). Once in a great while though, I have an apostrophe err…epiphany.
Today is the feast of the Epiphany. It is the day we remember the visit of the Magi. So much tradition has grown up around the simple statements made by Matthew in the second chapter his Gospel. This was a big deal. At Christmas we sing We Three Kings and set up Melchior, Balthazar, and Caspar around the manger. Do we really consider the impact of this bit of the Advent story? I thought that on the Feast of Epiphany you might benefit from some observations about the visit of the Magi.
They were men of science: In those days there was not a distinction between Astronomy and Astrology.
They left their homes in search of a great King whose birth was heralded by the stars.
They brought expensive gifts to honor this King and inquired at Jerusalem, Israel’s capital for the new King’s whereabouts.
It was not just Herod the Great who was disturbed by this news but all of Jerusalem.
Herod feigned friendship to the Magi and intended to murder this new King, an obvious rival
God warned the Magi to avoid Herod on their journey home
A direct result of their visit was the murder of all the toddlers and infants in Bethlehem
In many parts of the world today, children are awakening to gifts left by either the Magi or Befana (see her story here http://village.fortunecity.com/radclyffe/541/SoulKitchen/Folklore/folklore.html). Perhaps a simple way to extend our Christmas into the New Year and avoid the post Christmas let down is to hold back a small gift or sweet treat for our children and loved ones and surprise them with it on Epiphany or Twelfth Night. We know that the timing we assign to all of this is traditional and not factual. We know that we know very little about the Magi and even less about the events surrounding their visit to Jesus. We also know that they undertook a perilous journey and went into great danger to honor the Advent of Christ. I encourage you to find a way to remember that men who did not need to left their homes to honor the birth of Christ and in some way share that wonder of that with your loved ones. Their journey was significant enough to God for him to include it in the Gospels. That alone makes it worth commemorating.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
05 January 2009
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Twelfth Day of Christmas
Greetings and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Beloved Readers,
I own 4 different film versions of A Christmas Carol. I have the Alistair Sim version, George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart, and Muppet versions. According to IMDB there are at least 24 film versions including television. I would love to see them all. George C. Scott’s is my favorite and I only tolerate the Muppet one. In Scott’s version Edward Woodward (better known for his role in The Equalizer) portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present remarkably. Every time I watch him in this role I am galvanized to spread the presence of Christmas every moment I can.
Faith Hill’s song Where are You Christmas does the same thing to me. The common connection is they both offer the real possibility that we can carry the Spirit of Christmas with us always if we choose to do so. I know that many people do not get why Christmas matters so much to me. I will try to explain it.
You see, like everyone else who lives, I am a fallen, covetous old sinner. I have no hope from myself and could never truly help myself. Then God had this great idea (not literally because if you are omniscient you do not have ideas). He decided that he would rather die than live without us. He gave us himself as a perfect gift. How amazing is it that Christ was willing to live among us, be one of us, and let us murder him and all for our benefit. None of that is possible without the Incarnation, or taking on of flesh by God. It is what makes God our Immanuel (God with us), allows him to be named Jesus (savior), allows him to be called Christ (anointed one), and gives us a reason to have Christmas (literally Christ- Mass or the celebration of Christ).
If the God I sin against daily would do so much for me, how do I dare miss a day of celebrating his incarnation. I have undergone some major changes in the last year, some by choice, others forced upon me. I have decided that never again will I hide my daily love for celebrating the Advent of Christ. As I move through the year and see how the liturgical calendar revolves around the Advent and Resurrection of Christ, I will find ways to celebrate him even while the trees and nativity scene are in storage. I will do it by remembering what Christ loves most; that is man.
Dickens, using the ghost of Jacob Marley said better than I ever could. “Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
Anything I do must be charitable, merciful, forbearing, and benevolent. So in closing out this series of writings I again echo Charles Dickens, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me.”
Perhaps when my children speak of me to their grandchildren, they will be able to echo Dickens’ words about Scrooge relating them to me. “…and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.”
So on the Twelfth day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me twelve months to celebrate him, eleven months to prepare, ten reasons to love him, nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
I own 4 different film versions of A Christmas Carol. I have the Alistair Sim version, George C. Scott, Patrick Stewart, and Muppet versions. According to IMDB there are at least 24 film versions including television. I would love to see them all. George C. Scott’s is my favorite and I only tolerate the Muppet one. In Scott’s version Edward Woodward (better known for his role in The Equalizer) portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present remarkably. Every time I watch him in this role I am galvanized to spread the presence of Christmas every moment I can.
Faith Hill’s song Where are You Christmas does the same thing to me. The common connection is they both offer the real possibility that we can carry the Spirit of Christmas with us always if we choose to do so. I know that many people do not get why Christmas matters so much to me. I will try to explain it.
You see, like everyone else who lives, I am a fallen, covetous old sinner. I have no hope from myself and could never truly help myself. Then God had this great idea (not literally because if you are omniscient you do not have ideas). He decided that he would rather die than live without us. He gave us himself as a perfect gift. How amazing is it that Christ was willing to live among us, be one of us, and let us murder him and all for our benefit. None of that is possible without the Incarnation, or taking on of flesh by God. It is what makes God our Immanuel (God with us), allows him to be named Jesus (savior), allows him to be called Christ (anointed one), and gives us a reason to have Christmas (literally Christ- Mass or the celebration of Christ).
If the God I sin against daily would do so much for me, how do I dare miss a day of celebrating his incarnation. I have undergone some major changes in the last year, some by choice, others forced upon me. I have decided that never again will I hide my daily love for celebrating the Advent of Christ. As I move through the year and see how the liturgical calendar revolves around the Advent and Resurrection of Christ, I will find ways to celebrate him even while the trees and nativity scene are in storage. I will do it by remembering what Christ loves most; that is man.
Dickens, using the ghost of Jacob Marley said better than I ever could. “Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
Anything I do must be charitable, merciful, forbearing, and benevolent. So in closing out this series of writings I again echo Charles Dickens, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me.”
Perhaps when my children speak of me to their grandchildren, they will be able to echo Dickens’ words about Scrooge relating them to me. “…and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.”
So on the Twelfth day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me twelve months to celebrate him, eleven months to prepare, ten reasons to love him, nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
04 January 2009
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Eleventh Day of Christmas
Greetings and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Beloved Readers,
I do not know if you remember or have read back that far, but this all started with a series about people putting up Christmas decorations on All Souls Day. Here we are a day before Epiphany and many are dealing with the “after Christmas slump.” As way of beginning to close out my writing about Christmas for a spell, I wanted to offer another perspective. As I said way back in November, the whole idea of Christmas is the preparation for the Advent of our Anointed Savior. He is coming. Not just did he come, but he is coming back. The process of redemption is still moving forward and we are every day either detracting from or adding to the reclamation of our world. What I do today either makes the world a better place or a worse one.
How I treat everyone matters. Am I loving, patient, kind? Do I like Saint Francis beg God to make me an instrument of peace? The year is young and new. Christmas decorations are coming down and all the Christmas stuff at Wal-Mart is 75% off. I bought a few little things for next year. My daughter got some sale items so she can spend the year crafting cards for people next Christmas. We even in the waning days of this Christmas look forward and begin to prepare for the next.
Perhaps like Ebenezer Scrooge we can “keep Christmas in our heart all the year.” Perhaps this can be the year where we prepare for the Advent of Christ a little bit every day. If we give a little more of ourselves to him and those he puts in our path for the next eleven months, perhaps the reward will be that next year we will feel less put out when the decorations go up “to early.” Perhaps we will feel less stress, less pressure, and more love for those who need Christ so desperately.
So on the eleventh day of Christmas my Savior gave to me eleven months to prepare, ten reasons to love him, nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
I do not know if you remember or have read back that far, but this all started with a series about people putting up Christmas decorations on All Souls Day. Here we are a day before Epiphany and many are dealing with the “after Christmas slump.” As way of beginning to close out my writing about Christmas for a spell, I wanted to offer another perspective. As I said way back in November, the whole idea of Christmas is the preparation for the Advent of our Anointed Savior. He is coming. Not just did he come, but he is coming back. The process of redemption is still moving forward and we are every day either detracting from or adding to the reclamation of our world. What I do today either makes the world a better place or a worse one.
How I treat everyone matters. Am I loving, patient, kind? Do I like Saint Francis beg God to make me an instrument of peace? The year is young and new. Christmas decorations are coming down and all the Christmas stuff at Wal-Mart is 75% off. I bought a few little things for next year. My daughter got some sale items so she can spend the year crafting cards for people next Christmas. We even in the waning days of this Christmas look forward and begin to prepare for the next.
Perhaps like Ebenezer Scrooge we can “keep Christmas in our heart all the year.” Perhaps this can be the year where we prepare for the Advent of Christ a little bit every day. If we give a little more of ourselves to him and those he puts in our path for the next eleven months, perhaps the reward will be that next year we will feel less put out when the decorations go up “to early.” Perhaps we will feel less stress, less pressure, and more love for those who need Christ so desperately.
So on the eleventh day of Christmas my Savior gave to me eleven months to prepare, ten reasons to love him, nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
03 January 2009
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Tenth Day of Christmas
Greetings and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Beloved Readers,
It took some time to settle on this one. It is late in the day and I usually write in the mornings. This is a simple list; things that Christ has done just to show me why I should love him with all my heart. Here are ten among the countless reasons why I should give him nothing but my very best.
Christ is the one who seeks me when I constantly question, ignore, hurt, and reject him
Christ is good, constantly, in every situation, no matter whether I see it or not, he is good to me
Christ is working for me best even when I am working against it
Christ knows what I need even when I am lost, confused, or prideful and sure he is wrong
Christ is gentle, firm, kind, and patient no matter how long it takes me to get it right
Christ knows me, warts and all, to the depth of my being and still chooses to love me
Christ does not fear but instead already knows what I will do to hurt him tomorrow and chooses to stay with me anyway
Christ will carry me when I cannot walk and run with me when I am whole
Christ experienced the human condition so that he could truthfully say he understands
Christ died so that I might live
Christ promised to someday replace all that is wrong in me with beauty and grace
So on the tenth day of Christmas my Savior gave to me ten reasons to love him, nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
02 January 2009
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Ninth Day of Christmas
Greetings, Merry Christmas, and a Blessed New Year Beloved Readers,
As most of you have read the last nine months have been very trying for me. Not only has Avalon left us but I have had to face failures from my past including those in my relationships with my beloved Sons. I have had a life-long struggle with building lasting relationships with adult men. I know why and will not belabor you with the details but it is a struggle I fear I will carry through life.
That said, I wish to count among the precious gifts Christ has granted me, the men currently in my life who challenge me to be more than I am. They lovingly have built bridges to me when others are tearing me and those bridges down. Four of them are pastors at my church. Each has in his own way helped to guide me through the rocky waters of Avalon’s divorcing me. They have reassured me that I am doing what is right and been a sounding board when I am unsure. They have kept me from doing some pretty stupid things and shown me that who I am in Christ has value.
Three others are teaching colleagues who are serious Christ followers. They are good steady men who listen when I need an ear and check me when I seem rough or harsh. They have prayed with me and for me. They have honored who I am as a man and as a teacher. They are slowly teaching me that I can trust other men.
The last two are my Sons, Maxim and Bezel. They are my best friends and are willing to ask me hard questions in dangerous times. They stand by me even when they have to show me errors in my thinking and actions. They have fought to keep our relationship whole and strong. They even love me enough to stand against me when I am wrong, reassuring me that they love me. I will never find the words to express the depth of my love for my Sons.
All these men have helped, guided, and built me up in some way. I am humbled and thankful for their love and support.
So on the ninth day of Christmas my Savior gave to me nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
As most of you have read the last nine months have been very trying for me. Not only has Avalon left us but I have had to face failures from my past including those in my relationships with my beloved Sons. I have had a life-long struggle with building lasting relationships with adult men. I know why and will not belabor you with the details but it is a struggle I fear I will carry through life.
That said, I wish to count among the precious gifts Christ has granted me, the men currently in my life who challenge me to be more than I am. They lovingly have built bridges to me when others are tearing me and those bridges down. Four of them are pastors at my church. Each has in his own way helped to guide me through the rocky waters of Avalon’s divorcing me. They have reassured me that I am doing what is right and been a sounding board when I am unsure. They have kept me from doing some pretty stupid things and shown me that who I am in Christ has value.
Three others are teaching colleagues who are serious Christ followers. They are good steady men who listen when I need an ear and check me when I seem rough or harsh. They have prayed with me and for me. They have honored who I am as a man and as a teacher. They are slowly teaching me that I can trust other men.
The last two are my Sons, Maxim and Bezel. They are my best friends and are willing to ask me hard questions in dangerous times. They stand by me even when they have to show me errors in my thinking and actions. They have fought to keep our relationship whole and strong. They even love me enough to stand against me when I am wrong, reassuring me that they love me. I will never find the words to express the depth of my love for my Sons.
All these men have helped, guided, and built me up in some way. I am humbled and thankful for their love and support.
So on the ninth day of Christmas my Savior gave to me nine men to guide me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
01 January 2009
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Eighth Day of Christmas
Greetings and Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Beloved Readers,
As promised I am writing twice today to catch up so that this series will end properly on the twelfth day of Christmas or Epiphany. I found that I am missing the workings of school but that will be handled soon enough as we begin again next week. As a dear friend said last night, I will not wish away the time in between as it is her vacation from teaching as well and she needs the rest. That said, I am anxious to see some of my students who are both very important to me and not in my normal circle of movement. In them I see something for which I am eternally grateful. I see that Christ still has a purpose in both my life and my current distress.
I want to focus though on a particular gift Christ has bestowed upon me as I enter the year. It is that there are these people in my life who need to see Christ and that Christ sees fit to clean me up enough for them to catch a glimpse of what he has to offer in me.
I can attest to how far I have come because of Christ’s love and grace. Long ago in my far past I was headed only for death and destruction. But even then he saw fit to send along a flawed broken human who he had polished up just enough for me to see Christ in him.
I can think of eight men who I interact with daily who need to embrace Christ fully or need a deeper relationship with him. Avalon’s departure has forced me to examine myself and see how I can better be the example Christ wishes me to be. It is in this trail that I have found that I care so much more about the hearts and spirits of my students than I ever thought I could. And in that caring there is a list of eight young men who need all that Christ has for them and the richness that is found in being his and his alone.
I have put their names on a sticky note by my monitor. I will spend the year praying for them daily just so I can have a small part in their journey toward Christ. More importantly, they help me keep my eyes off of myself and on things that matter eternally.
So on the eighth day of Christmas my Savior gave to me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
As promised I am writing twice today to catch up so that this series will end properly on the twelfth day of Christmas or Epiphany. I found that I am missing the workings of school but that will be handled soon enough as we begin again next week. As a dear friend said last night, I will not wish away the time in between as it is her vacation from teaching as well and she needs the rest. That said, I am anxious to see some of my students who are both very important to me and not in my normal circle of movement. In them I see something for which I am eternally grateful. I see that Christ still has a purpose in both my life and my current distress.
I want to focus though on a particular gift Christ has bestowed upon me as I enter the year. It is that there are these people in my life who need to see Christ and that Christ sees fit to clean me up enough for them to catch a glimpse of what he has to offer in me.
I can attest to how far I have come because of Christ’s love and grace. Long ago in my far past I was headed only for death and destruction. But even then he saw fit to send along a flawed broken human who he had polished up just enough for me to see Christ in him.
I can think of eight men who I interact with daily who need to embrace Christ fully or need a deeper relationship with him. Avalon’s departure has forced me to examine myself and see how I can better be the example Christ wishes me to be. It is in this trail that I have found that I care so much more about the hearts and spirits of my students than I ever thought I could. And in that caring there is a list of eight young men who need all that Christ has for them and the richness that is found in being his and his alone.
I have put their names on a sticky note by my monitor. I will spend the year praying for them daily just so I can have a small part in their journey toward Christ. More importantly, they help me keep my eyes off of myself and on things that matter eternally.
So on the eighth day of Christmas my Savior gave to me, eight men I can help see, seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year
Aramis Thorn
Pondering My Christmas Gifts - The Seventh Day of Christmas
Greetings and Merry Christmas Beloved Readers,
As I ponder the first day of this New Year, I awaken neither hung over nor over partied. I am surrounded by a fresh snowfall and the temperatures outside are in the teens. It is both cold and beautiful. I have so much to be thankful for as the year begins and so much to look forward to. Traditionally the tree comes down and Christmas is pack up in decoration today. We have decided to leave it up a little longer.
I keep tokens of Christmas around me all year. In my office where I write there is a lovely little manger scene always on my desk, an ornament of Santa sitting with his laptop hanging by my lamp, and up on a book shelf a stuffed Santa. But this year I want the full effect a little longer.
In times past I had difficulty putting away the tree and trappings. It actually caused me pain to do it. With some difficulty I have overcome that and feel grateful for the years that Avalon put things away for me to save me the hurt. I wrote earlier about the ceramic manger scene under our tree this year. I am thinking of those seven precious figures and how often they have spoken to me throughout this Christmas season.
So many aspects of the small piece of history that is represented by the manger scene touch me this year. Joseph was unwilling to see Mary hurt when he thought the worst of her and when God intervened to correct him, he took the opportunity to be a father and husband in hand with all his heart. Mary endured fear and shame for the sake of what was right for the world, disregarding her own happiness. The Magi left whatever home they had in search of the new King so they could honor him. And Christ stepped away from the eternal companionship of his Father to take on flesh and be with us.
None of them thought of their own happiness above doing their part in bringing salvation to men. All day today people will tell me Happy New Year. I cannot truly say that I am happy, but that is not what Christ intends us to be. He intends us to have something far less fleeting. He wants us to have the love, joy, and peace that comes from obedience to him.
That is one of the significant things I see in a manger scene. That all involved left their homes to take part in an event that redeems us all. They each put what was right over their own happiness and in that journey found happiness and much more.
So on the seventh day of Christmas my Savior gave to me seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey a Merry Christmas, and a Christ filled New Year
Aramis Thorn
As I ponder the first day of this New Year, I awaken neither hung over nor over partied. I am surrounded by a fresh snowfall and the temperatures outside are in the teens. It is both cold and beautiful. I have so much to be thankful for as the year begins and so much to look forward to. Traditionally the tree comes down and Christmas is pack up in decoration today. We have decided to leave it up a little longer.
I keep tokens of Christmas around me all year. In my office where I write there is a lovely little manger scene always on my desk, an ornament of Santa sitting with his laptop hanging by my lamp, and up on a book shelf a stuffed Santa. But this year I want the full effect a little longer.
In times past I had difficulty putting away the tree and trappings. It actually caused me pain to do it. With some difficulty I have overcome that and feel grateful for the years that Avalon put things away for me to save me the hurt. I wrote earlier about the ceramic manger scene under our tree this year. I am thinking of those seven precious figures and how often they have spoken to me throughout this Christmas season.
So many aspects of the small piece of history that is represented by the manger scene touch me this year. Joseph was unwilling to see Mary hurt when he thought the worst of her and when God intervened to correct him, he took the opportunity to be a father and husband in hand with all his heart. Mary endured fear and shame for the sake of what was right for the world, disregarding her own happiness. The Magi left whatever home they had in search of the new King so they could honor him. And Christ stepped away from the eternal companionship of his Father to take on flesh and be with us.
None of them thought of their own happiness above doing their part in bringing salvation to men. All day today people will tell me Happy New Year. I cannot truly say that I am happy, but that is not what Christ intends us to be. He intends us to have something far less fleeting. He wants us to have the love, joy, and peace that comes from obedience to him.
That is one of the significant things I see in a manger scene. That all involved left their homes to take part in an event that redeems us all. They each put what was right over their own happiness and in that journey found happiness and much more.
So on the seventh day of Christmas my Savior gave to me seven figures under the tree, six more days of rest, five perfect things, four children to gather round me, the blessing of the Trinity, twice the joy of giving, and a purpose for carrying his tree.
Wishing you joy in the journey a Merry Christmas, and a Christ filled New Year
Aramis Thorn
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