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Site last updated 11/10/08

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We have a new Seventy in our Mission Center. ...................Visit the Las Cruces photo album.

There is a myth, or maybe an urban legend, that after the busyness of summer, the fall is a slower pace, more leisurely, and less hectic. That is a very appealing thought, even if somewhat without merit. My wife mentioned Thanksgiving plans to me this morning. Thanksgiving? I haven't unpacked from Reunion yet.

Still, Halloween is now past, and it is indeed time to think about the Holidays. The holidays seem to bring their own brand of busy, often more personal. We try to get together with family, as well as office or school parties. In addition, many congregations try to schedule a congregational Thanksgiving meal, and a Christmas program or special worship. While I'm sure my observations are wrong, it seems that often these things are as much added stress as joyous celebration.

When given a chance, I advise people to intentionally build into their schedule some personal time, some down time. At times our schedules control us rather than the other way around. Our next holiday is Thanksgiving. To Whom do we offer thanks? We remember that Thanksgiving was initiated in gratitude for the first harvest in America, and an end to hunger and suffering that their first year had brought. To these folks, that expression of thanks was not a general but vague gratitude, it was an expression of deep gratitude to God. Do we get so busy that we forget thanks is not simply a vague, general feeling, but is expressed to our heavenly parent? Maybe we should build into our schedule not only the meal and celebration, but also time to reflect and offer our thanks to God.

We make much of the commercialization of Christmas, but we often ignore the real meaning of Christmas, celebration of the birth of Jesus, not because the stores decorate with Rudolph rather than a manger, but because we get too intent on our to do list. Christmas is seen as a deadline rather than a joyous celebration of this world changing birth. Free advice is normally worth just what you pay for it, but I'll give it anyway. Take time to make these holiday's holy. Intentionally build into your schedule time with God as well as time with co-workers and family.

Yours in Christ,

Bruce Darrington
Rio Grande Mission President

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