With Advent ending, I’m sending out this link — “No More Quid Pro Quo” — to last year’s December 23 Advent calendar reflection. It was originally written for The Washington Post and has proved to be a very popular piece in the years since it first appeared. It is a narrative reading of the Wise Men and the radical nature of gifts, a biblical story that has perplexed me since childhood.
An unexpected Christmas gift for you theology geeks — Mason Mennenga of A People’s Theology has released his live-recorded podcast with me, Tom Oord, and Andrew Davis from Theology Beer Camp on “Who is God in Process Theology?” For some smart, fun theological and philosophical conversation CLICK HERE.
As I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude
that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful,
God is tilted toward the underdog.
― Philip Yancey
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INSPIRATION
Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice — it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances — but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.
— Mary Oliver
Thank you for responding, Diana. I thought I was missing something. All good and enjoying being part of the Cottage. I follow Tripp Fuller, too. So I get lots of theology!
Technical issue: I’m a subscriber but the podcast feed is not updating. The last one is from October. I’m keeping up through the emails, but would like the podcasts, too. Thanks! (Natamw@gmail.com)