The Light

St. John’s Gospel, in the first chapter, tells us that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” The days leading to Christmas and the time after are days to treasure as each day begins to be a little longer and night a little shorter. One of the special happenings this year is the

“Christmas Star.” Astronomically it is the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which creates a bright light in the sky. It doesn’t happen very often. I believe I read it last occurred in the Middle Ages. I was able to see it from my bedroom deck through the bare branches of a tree. I wanted to see it more clearly so I climbed in the car and intended to drive out of town away from the light pollution. As I came around the corner just three blocks from my home there it was in the sky shining brightly. I didn’t need to go any further. As a symbol of that light about which St. John speaks, we use candles in church. I wrote last week about being an Advent purist. I am also a candle junkie. My home is filled

with candles. There is a Swedish wrought iron and glass chandelier above the dining room table. I remember buying it Uppsala and then hauling it home. I learned to think twice about listening to the salesperson’s story about it being an easy thing to carry. It wasn’t but I made it. I don’t think it would have passed security clearance in this day and age. There is another Swedish chandelier in the living room. I had this one shipped along with the wall sconces. I did learn my lesson. There are a half dozen Swedish glass candle holders on the mantle. Three are shaped like snow balls and three are squares. They are heavy. I accidentally knocked one off the mantel one time and it fell to the floor. I thought surely the thing would shatter into a million pieces. Instead it took a chunk out of the ceramic tile upon which it fell. Nary a scratch is seen on the glass object. I call that durable. Tonight I will light three seven day candles in the living room window so the Magi can find their way

to the manger. I also light other candles because I enjoy their glow. I’ve never really stopped to assess the candle budget for this household. The candles are a source of pleasure, a symbol of hope, a reminder of the light shining in the darkness. I’ve practiced quite a bit this week. I think the Christmas Eve service went well. Tomorrow there will be a service of Lessons and Carols. Well, not really. It will be a Eucharist with a lot of carols interjected. The Cathedral’s version of the same will be live-streamed only. It is entirely prerecorded. I recorded my solo last Sunday. There will be an interesting “conjunction” tomorrow as I play for one Church service and am singing a solo in another church service at the same time! How many of us even knew what “live-stream” was at this time last year? One of the mottos of the state of

South Dakota is “The Land of Infinite Variety.” It refers to the vast differences between the mountains in the west, the plains, the badlands, the lake country, the farm country. We often use it to refer to the weather. On Tuesday we had a high of 55º. On Wednesday we had a blizzard and a low of -2º. If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and something different is apt to show up. The last two days have been nice enough to take my usual walks. If I put on enough clothing the walk is pleasant and the sunshine recharges my batteries. Whatever Google has done to Blogger it hasn’t been an improvement in my thought. It used to be easy to insert a picture and add a caption. I can insert a picture but adding a caption one cannot do. The thing also destroys all indications of a new paragraph. No matter the software I use to compose the blog, when it is inserted into Blogger it becomes one long run-on paragraph. I’ve even typed directly into Blogger and the same thing happens. I don’t know what caused it to become “anti-paragraph.” I guess it’s something that require acceptance by us. I had my scans on Thursday morning. I haven’t seen a report yet, but I will see the oncologist on Monday and he will reveal all. So, I’ll

let you know about those items next week. Happy Boxing Day! Stay well and safe and warm. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and greetings. A good friend brought me a lovely Yuletide arrangement which brightens my table and reminds me of all my kind friends. It used to be a thrill to have lots of presents to open. Now, acts of kindness are more important than any gift. Be kind to all you meet. After church yesterday, a venerable aged lady of the congregation visited with me. She said that her life had not been easy. She has been amazed of late at the kindness of persons she doesn’t even know. She had stopped for fuel for her car on a bitterly cold day. A gentleman approached her and told her to stay in her car and he would handle the refill operation. When completed he told her he had paid for her gasoline. She continued, “I went to the grocery store and when I was ready to check out the person ahead of me paid for my groceries. I can’t believe how kind people are.” Random acts of kindness are truly blessings. Remember that the “light that has come into the world” did so in a borrowed place.

That’s What I Am

I admit it. I’m not ashamed. I will freely confess that I am an Advent purist, advocate, passionate promotor, whatever you want to call me. I find it such a beautiful season liturgically. It perfectly mirrors what is happening in nature. As the days continue to grow shorter the readings, the lighting of the candles, the preparations for the big feast are taking place. The keeping of Advent helps so much to make the Christmas celebration more special. When I had a Christmas tree I used to put that up and decorate it on Christmas Eve in the morning while listening to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College in Cambridge, England. It would already be late afternoon there. The lone boy soprano singing the first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City” always sent chills up and down my back. I think it may have been that service that made me passionate to help found a boys’ choir here in the city. Even after the choir was founded and established we did not “do” a Christmas concert. All of the directors were busy with other Christmas events and we assumed the boys were as well. After several years and as many discussions we settled upon a Christmas Tea. The boys sang a rather short concert and then the parents hosted a tea for all those who came. It grew into a tradition. For the first time in over 20 years that is not happening this year. I will miss it. I will miss seeing a choirboy from many years ago who continues to come with his mother every year. It’s a part of that family’s tradition. He’s all grown up and married now but mom and son still come every year. Some of those traditions are very hard to give up mainly because they define the people we are. They form the memories that we hold dear. I will freely admit that the Christmas tree in my house went by the wayside many years ago. Cats and Christmas trees are simply not compatible. I still have boxes of ornaments that mean very much to me, but they stay in boxes in the basement storage room. Who would want them? I have no idea. To others they are just ornaments. To me they are memories of where they were acquired or from whom they were received. This week the figures for the crèche will appear on their way to the stable. The tableau has its residence on the mantel above the living room fireplace. The feline of the household has to admire it from afar since there is no access (by design) for Sophia to examine it more closely. The crèche was gift from a dear friend who was laid to rest several years ago. I’m still grateful. The closest IKEA to us is in the Twin Cities area. I think it was on my second visit that I spied these illuminated wreathes of which I am fond.

The lights had to be replaced but they still bring brightness to the living room with their sparkle dispelling the darkness. One frames a snowflake which was purchased at the gift shop of the art center in Brookings. The supposition is that we really have enough snow in South Dakota. Who needs one more flake hanging in the house? When it refracts the sunlight the room is full of rainbows. In spite of its shape, it’s lovely. The great good news of the week was the arrival of the first vaccine. Some have received their first dose and many more will do so in the next weeks. And then there are those who will refuse to be vaccinated. Probably many of the same persons who refuse to wear a mask. One cannot be thankful enough for the hope that the vaccine brings. Our lives may return to “normal” if we can remember what that is. In the meantime one cannot be overly careful. A very good friend who has been extremely careful is in the hospital with Covid-19. She has refused to go into stores, has everything delivered or curbside pick-up. She has avoided all social gatherings. I don’t know of anyone who has been more careful. Yet she is afflicted with the virus.

Many days this week we were blessed with tolerable temperatures and sunlight. It has been a joy to go for a couple of short strolls each day. I can tell that these walks are good for my endurance. Given all that is going on it is so easy to sit around in one’s cocoon. Sometimes it’s a struggle to get out but I’m usually happy I’ve done it. I’ve felt very well the past week. Christmas Eve morning I will have a CT scan and an MRI. These reveal what is really going on unseen and inside. Because of the way I feel I am not worried about bad news. Thanks for your prayers, your cards, your calls and all that you’ve done to keep in touch. I’m grateful for you. May your Christmas celebration bring you happiness, peace, and hope. I’ll get back to you on the Second Day of Christmas.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day! Well, let’s say it used to be the day when the winter solstice occurred. That was before the whole calendar changed back in 1582. Julius Caesar, in 45 BC instituted a calendar for the Roman Empire which became used in most of the world. That’s not odd considering the Roman Empire consisted of most of the world until in all fell apart. Pope Gregory replaced the Julian calendar, as it was called, in order to correct what had happened over the years. That correction he deemed necessary because the Julian calendar was not accurately taking into account the time the earth was taking in making its appointed trip around the sun. The solstice now occurs on or about December 21. But in Scandinavia, particularly Sweden, the former solstice date is still celebrated on December 13. It is Lucia Day, the Feast of Saint Lucia, a Sicilian saint who somehow became popular in the cold and frozen north. Her name means “light” and her feast marked the end of the shortening days and the return of longer daylight hours little by little. Since it is very dark in the Scandinavian countries in winter the people long for even a little more sunlight, even minutes more day by day. The tradition calls for a daughter of the family

to dress in a long white garment, place a crown of candles on her head and go from bed to bed waking the household. She also offers Lussikattor, saffron buns and coffee. The buns are twisted to resemble “cat eyes” with raisins inserted for the pupils. A charming custom but not without danger to the one who wears the crown! I think battery powered candles are most prevalent now. The Swedish Lutheran Church includes a St. Lucia liturgy in the High Mass on the Sunday nearest St. Lucy’s Day. One finds remnants of the celebration even in 2020. Churches whose roots are found in Swedish immigrant culture sometimes have a Lucia festival on or near December 13. St. Mark’s Lutheran, here in Sioux Falls, is of that ilk and yearly enjoys the feast and shares it with others. As I write this the gloom of night has descended upon us as of 5 PM. Those of us with SADs will begin rejoicing when the daylight increases begin. It doesn’t help that the whole day was gloomy. We had beautiful autumn weather at the beginning of the week with temps in the mid 50s. The sun shone brightly. ’Tis the case no longer. I think the high today was 27º. I will look forward to a roaring fireplace this evening having just returned from my afternoon walk. All has gone well this week. I’ve felt really well. I’ve read through a lot of music and chosen what I will work on to play this Yuletide. I used to cringe at the sight of those daily pill containers that seemed to indicate some kind of religious devotion to the taking of medication. I don’t have that much medication but I am finding that using one of those daily dispensers helps keep track of what I’m supposed to do. I say “helps” because in refilling the thing this afternoon I discovered I had forgotten to take the requisite pills on two days this past week. This could be a sign of senility, or that I was feeling so well that medication was but a distant thought. I don’t know which. I do know that my watch has an alarm set so I will remember to medicate. It’s interesting that the alarm goes off and I just ignore it and don’t take the pills! I wonder what that means? Have a good week. I am grateful for all of you who share my thoughts, who hold me up in prayer and are such an important part of my life.

A Beautiful Day

Today, as was yesterday and several days this week, a beautiful day. The sunshine was bright, the temperature pleasant (for December in South Dakota, that is) and the wind nearly non-existent. I believe that each day saw me completing my “steps” as counted by my watch. A little walk in the morning and evening sort of “bookends” my day, or rather the part of day that is light. After three weeks off I returned for chemotherapy. This is not something that most people look forward to. God has blessed me greatly in that the pre-medication for nausea works very well and I don’t have any awful side effects. The staff at the Prairie Center is so kind and helpful and welcoming, I might add. The week begins with a visit to the lab for a blood draw. Those results are sent electronically to the doctor with whom I meet about an hour later. The results determine whether I can go ahead with the treatments, I assume. For a while it was sodium that was the concern. It kept jumping up and down from high to low. That hasn’t been the case lately. When the doctor looks at the results and says “There’s nothing here to talk about,” that I believe is a good sign! 
After five infusions the week ends with a shot to improve my white cell count which is affected by the chemo. Then I’m finished. The staff all wish me a “good by” as I leave. By this time everyone knows my name. Now, on Christmas Eve I will have a CT scan and an MRI and we will see what is really happening on the inside. All has gone well so far so I have no fears. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have now become obvious in the hospital. The Prairie Center used to be open weekdays from 7 to 5, Monday through Friday. If patients needed infusions outside of those hours they went to the main hospital for such. Now the hospital is too crowded so the staff at the cancer center is now working evenings and weekends. The latest reports on the pandemic here show that 10% of the population has been infected, and probably more than that who haven’t been tested. Also the number we have sent out of the state through the motorcycle rally and other super-spreader events is an unknown but probably huge. I wonder if our do-nothing governor is proud of the number. The major hospital system from which the CEO took “early retirement” a short time ago was due to merge with another giant system from Utah. Today it was announced that the merger was cancelled. Seems there is a bit of turmoil. It had been planned that the administration would move to Utah. That would have left a number of buildings here vacant, some of them recently constructed. I continue to enjoy re-reading parts of Gertrud Mueller Nelson’s book that I mentioned last week. Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day and she relates the many activities that her family did to celebrate that day. It was fun to note that as her children went on to college they continued to celebrate as many of the customs as they could with their new communities. She writes of her daughter baking cookies and hanging one on the bedroom doors of her college dormitory as a little surprise. I recall my mother saying to me, “I don’t understand why you could choose two such low paying occupations!” She was referring to a musician and a priest. There are musicians and priests who do very well, but generally not in South Dakota. If she were present now she would probably say, “I don’t understand why you could choose two occupations from which you will never retire!” One of the local churches needed an organist for Christmas and the week following. I’d better get busy practicing, again. Sophia continues to improve her word processing skills!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Your support is very precious to me.