The Christmas Difference: Snow on My Car

Greetings Dear Reader,

This one is simple.  When I go out to my car in a parking lot, if there is snow on my car I remove it whilst my car is warming up.  I also clear the cars on either side of me.  It leaves a pleasant surprise for the person and I enjoy doing it.  I realize this is neither profound nor big.  I also know the joy is in the giving.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

The Christmas Difference: Walking to the Car

Greetings Dear Reader,

After the shopping and paying comes the trip to the car.  One would think there is not much to be done in this short aspect of the journey.  One would be misinformed.  Opportunities to instill the Christmas difference abound.

In my mind this plays like the scene in a Christmas Carol when the Ghost of Christmas Present is walking about with his cornucopia sprinkling strangers with his Christmas blessing.  I make it a point to greet people I pass with a smile.  I wish them a Merry Christmas.  I remember to put something in the Salvation Army kettle.  I put my cart away.

There are other things that can be done that make a difference.  Look for parents with small children.  Offer to put their shopping cart away for them.  This way the child is not left alone in the car or out in the elements.  The point is to be aware of the needs of others.  It keeps me from focusing on self and spreads some cheer.   

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

The Christmas Difference: Standing in Line

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that revealing some of the things I do during the Christmas season may make me seem a little eccentric.  I assure that I am not wealthy enough to be considered eccentric. 

One of the things that keep me in the Christmas spirit and further my own joy is to sing whilst I shop.  Especially when I find that I am standing in a long line.  I will quietly sing or hum Christmas hymns.  It usually impacts those around me.  Sometimes they comment.  That too is usually joyous.  On two occasions over the last fourteen years the people in line around me have joined in with me.

The standing-in-line related activity that makes a difference at Christmas is fun as well.  If I see someone harried and hurried and I think it will matter, I offer him or her my place in line.  This gives me the opportunity to go to the back of the line and impact a whole new group of shoppers. 

Again, these are little things but they combine to generate a feeling that I am keeping my perspective on Christmas and that I am making mankind my business.  After all it is the joy of giving that should motivate us.  This is a great opportunity to give to strangers. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

The Christmas Difference: Tiny Things at Work

Greetings Dear Reader,

I work with some wonderful people.  They are hardworking and committed to changing the lives of others.  From yesterday until our Christmas break I will be dropping tiny anonymous gifts in their mail boxes at work.  It is simple and cheap.  It also makes them feel appreciated without having to thank someone. 

I also will bring in some special coffee for the coffee maker and share a tray of cookies on a day that is not expected.  I am not saying to do anything lavish or elaborate.  A trip to the dollar store will do the trick.  The idea is to secretly make others feel good.  Enjoy!

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

The Christmas Difference: Children in Stores

Greetings Dear Reader,

I adopted this practice after my children were grown and enjoy it thoroughly.  I think one of the toughest things to balance in being out and about is feeding a child’s wonder and keeping them under control.  I see children all the time in stores whose parents are either too overwhelmed or too inattentive to keep them from acting out.

What I look for is the opposite.  One of the things I do is notice children who are polite and kind.  Especially pleasing is when a second or third grader needs to get past you and says “excuse me please.”  I am always prepared for such an event. 

First I respond to the child and then I approach the parent.  In front of the child I thank the parent for the politeness and commend them on instilling it in children at a young age.  I am always amazed at how well this goes over.  Parents have to work to train their children to be polite.  When they are successful they should know it.  I urge you to take the time to share this success with parents.  Very few will and it means the world to them.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

The Christmas Difference: Service People

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have an every diner.  It is like hundreds of diners that can be found in cities and towns.  It is my favorite.  I used to have another favorite but it closed.  It took me a couple of years to find this one.  At first it was a short drive from where I lived but now it is longer.  I have to make an effort if I want to go there and I do make that effort.

There are people that eat two or three meals a day there.  The wait staff has changed little in the last eight years.  The menu has changed even less.  It is the kind of place that when I walk in the door I am greeted by name and treated like family.  I eat far too many of my meals alone for my liking and eating at this diner soothes a great part of that.

Over the years I have established a tradition involving this diner that I think may benefit others.  We all have service people in our lives that work hard to please us.  Most of them make less that we do and work at demanding jobs.  One of the ways I show my appreciation to the folks at my every diner is to go there for breakfast on Christmas Eve morning.  I take whoever went bell ringing with me that morning and buy them a hot breakfast to chase away the chill.

After an excellent breakfast I have a quiet conversation with the owner and hand him some money.  I provide a modest tip for each of the people who work there.  It is not much to me and is to them.  It makes a difference not just in the money in their pockets but in the respect for what they do for a living.

In making a difference at Christmas I would challenge you to find a way to honor the service people that make your life easier or more pleasant.  If you have to work a little harder or sacrifice a little to do it, mores the better.  When we benefit from the hard work of others we should give some of that back.

If we hope to live out the spirit of love and generosity that is supposed to characterize the Christmas season then we must begin with those around us who work to make our lives better.  Give it a try.  I would love to hear what you find joy in doing for others.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Greed

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hope that your Thanksgiving was full of family and joy.  Mine sure was.  I found great joy in the food that I served, the friends that came, and in the time with my children and my Grandson.  My younger Son, Bezel could not be there and I missed him greatly.

What really astounded me was that for reason merchants felt that the right way to celebrate a day of giving thanks and a time for families was to require workers to be present.  Many stores chose to open Thanksgiving Day.  All this said to me was greed.  It caused me to avoid everything to do with shopping for both Thursday and Friday. 

I am saddened by the greed that is flooding over into a day that is supposed to be dedicated to giving thanks for the blessings we already have.  I realize that esteeming one day over another is simply a social construct.  Those constructs, however, are what teach us morals and values.  What does it say about those values if we put the shopping above time with family and pull others away from theirs so that we can indulge our need to consume?

Further I am horrified by the increased violence associated with “Black Friday” events.  People push, shove, and harm others for a better deal.  One woman used pepper spray to clear crowds away from the Xbox she wanted.  People got into physical conflicts over yoga pants, bath towels, and waffle makers. 

In reading stories in the news about the aforementioned incidents a theme recurred.  Most of the writers referred to Thanksgiving as a day dedicated to overindulgence.  Again it troubles me that we ponder greed over giving thanks.  We embrace food and shopping over gratitude and the needs of others.

I am thankful for so many things in my life.  I know that I show that gratitude.  I worry that the world is losing this.  I fear for the overwhelming greed that enshrouds what is the beginning of the Christmas season.  It saddens me that we grasp for more when there are still those without common necessities.  I fear that the growth of the greed will only continue.  I am determined to make a difference.  In coming days we will ponder how.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

  

Silver Bells

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hope your Thanksgiving Day was full of joy and plenty.  I know that mine was beautiful and blessed.  As usual my Grandson stole the show.  He is just amazing.  Friends were here and it was a blessing to know them a little better. 

As I start my morning on “Black Friday” I will not be shopping.  I will be bell ringing for the Salvation Army.   Please consider taking a shift of two hours some time between now and Christmas.  You can sign up at www.ringbells.org .  This organization feeds people and works to keep families off the street.  If you are out shopping you have more than them.  Please share so that others may have.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

On Giving Thanks: I Truly Am

Greetings Dear Reader,

The house is full of wonderful smells.  The pies are backed adding the aroma of pumpkin, apple, and accompanying spices to the air.  The turkey is in the oven wafting out an invitation that I will later indulge.  The stuffing is ready for the over and the mixer is anxiously awaiting the potatoes and later the whipped cream.

Later family and friends will join me at my home.  We will pray and eat.  We will talk and laugh.  An added blessing is that Maxim has the day off so he, Raven, and Orion will join us.  I still have some bread to bake and tea to make.  I go to it with joy and anticipation.  I also feel deep gratitude for all that God has provided for me.

One thing that I do not express my thanks for enough is you Dear Reader.  I hope that today finds you steeped in comfort and joy.  If you know me and don’t have a place to celebrate we are dining at two o’clock.  We have plenty.

I want you to know how much your reading, comments, and support mean to me.  I have tried writing in a vacuum and it is lonely and barren.  My chats with you Dear Reader give me courage to face the blank page.  So today I am thankful for you.  May God bless you richly and give grace that you feel no sorrow.  May your journey be filled with not only joy and peace so that you find your way home and relish the journey. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

On Giving Thanks: Baking Bread

Greetings Dear Reader,

On the east side of the town in which I live is a large bakery.  Early in the morning the smell of fresh bread fills the area around it.  Many years ago when I first moved into a different house near that bakery Avalon and I decided to sleep at the house the first night of the closing.  We had sleeping bags, pillows, and a change of clothes. 

I also snuck our bread maker into the house so that we could have fresh bread for breakfast in the morning.  After she fell asleep I set up the machine and timed it so the bread would be ready as we woke up the next morning.  About an hour before the bread was done Avalon shook me awake and excitedly told me that she could smell the bakery.  I laughed and assured her that I thought that was a wonderful thing.  Her joy when she realized later that I had made bread for us for breakfast was exuberant.  It became a running moment of laughter in our lives that when we smelled bread baking we would comment that one could smell the bakery from wherever we were.

My house smells like fresh baked bread this morning.  Today we have a Thanksgiving meal for all those with whom I work.  This is one of those smells that enriches my life no matter when I encounter it.  I cannot think of anyone for whom this is not true.  I will bake at least two more loaves before our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. 

I am thankful for the people I work with and the job that I have.  I get to change lives and give hard working people a chance at a new career.  Today I will share fresh baked bread with my coworkers.  It is of great value to me to do this.  It astounds me that God chooses to make something so basic to life so rich and enjoyable.  I am so thankful that making and sharing it is so simple.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to break bread with those I with whom I work. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."