Counting Our Blessings
Christmas 2008
And when my bankroll is getting small,
I’ll think about when I had none at all,
And I’ll fall asleep counting my blessings.
-Irving Berlin, White Christmas, 1953
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I heard these lyrics to an old Christmas favorite a few days ago, and it caused me to reflect on the movie in which Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are cast as old World War II army buddies who are now enjoying big success in the entertainment industry. They learn that their former commander, General Thomas Waverly, has fallen on hard times, having invested all the money he had in a Vermont ski lodge that has fallen victim to a couple of seasons with no snow. Through the miracle of Hollywood screenwriting, Crosby and Kaye manage to move an entire Broadway show (actors, set and all) up to the lodge, recruit all of the men who served under the general to come to Vermont on Christmas Eve, and the movie ends with the general financially secure and his spirits uplifted. A theme of the story is that when everything around us seems to be falling apart, we always have each other to turn to.
In many ways, the past few months have made many of us feel a little like General Waverly – sensing our financial security slipping away and seeing no clear path into the future. The “conventional wisdom” of worldwide finance has failed us, and even this week we have learned that a renowned investment adviser has been the mastermind of a $50 billion scheme that has defrauded some of the world’s largest financial institutions and their investors. If the financial giants of the world are falling, where are we?
It is in the midst of such uncertainty that we await and prepare in hope for the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The humble circumstances of his birth teach us the Kingdom values that reflect not the world’s economy, but God’s: an economy in which less is more, giving is more valued than receiving, and dying to self is the pathway to life. It is profoundly countercultural. But then again, so was Jesus. That’s what we mean when we call ourselves “Christian.” When we fall asleep, we can always count our abundant blessings.
How would Jesus celebrate Christmas? (HWJC?) Spend less at the mall. Give more presence to those who mean the most to us. Come celebrate with us – bring your family and your friends, and tell them what a precious gift awaits them when we all come together – to share our faith and to worship our Lord and Savior. It’s the gift that multiplies by God’s grace, and keeps on giving to ourselves and others.
On behalf of Debbie any my family, the staff and associate clergy, I wish you all the joys of this holy season. Please do come celebrate with us as we put the world and its problems into perspective, and experience the beauty and holiness of worship with Jesus’ brothers and sisters at Trinity. And as you count your blessings even in these difficult times, I hope you will consider a faithful birthday present to build Jesus’ mission here at Trinity.
Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. Donald L. Hamer
Rector
And when my bankroll is getting small,
I’ll think about when I had none at all,
And I’ll fall asleep counting my blessings.
-Irving Berlin, White Christmas, 1953
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I heard these lyrics to an old Christmas favorite a few days ago, and it caused me to reflect on the movie in which Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are cast as old World War II army buddies who are now enjoying big success in the entertainment industry. They learn that their former commander, General Thomas Waverly, has fallen on hard times, having invested all the money he had in a Vermont ski lodge that has fallen victim to a couple of seasons with no snow. Through the miracle of Hollywood screenwriting, Crosby and Kaye manage to move an entire Broadway show (actors, set and all) up to the lodge, recruit all of the men who served under the general to come to Vermont on Christmas Eve, and the movie ends with the general financially secure and his spirits uplifted. A theme of the story is that when everything around us seems to be falling apart, we always have each other to turn to.
In many ways, the past few months have made many of us feel a little like General Waverly – sensing our financial security slipping away and seeing no clear path into the future. The “conventional wisdom” of worldwide finance has failed us, and even this week we have learned that a renowned investment adviser has been the mastermind of a $50 billion scheme that has defrauded some of the world’s largest financial institutions and their investors. If the financial giants of the world are falling, where are we?
It is in the midst of such uncertainty that we await and prepare in hope for the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The humble circumstances of his birth teach us the Kingdom values that reflect not the world’s economy, but God’s: an economy in which less is more, giving is more valued than receiving, and dying to self is the pathway to life. It is profoundly countercultural. But then again, so was Jesus. That’s what we mean when we call ourselves “Christian.” When we fall asleep, we can always count our abundant blessings.
How would Jesus celebrate Christmas? (HWJC?) Spend less at the mall. Give more presence to those who mean the most to us. Come celebrate with us – bring your family and your friends, and tell them what a precious gift awaits them when we all come together – to share our faith and to worship our Lord and Savior. It’s the gift that multiplies by God’s grace, and keeps on giving to ourselves and others.
On behalf of Debbie any my family, the staff and associate clergy, I wish you all the joys of this holy season. Please do come celebrate with us as we put the world and its problems into perspective, and experience the beauty and holiness of worship with Jesus’ brothers and sisters at Trinity. And as you count your blessings even in these difficult times, I hope you will consider a faithful birthday present to build Jesus’ mission here at Trinity.
Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. Donald L. Hamer
Rector
posted by Don+ @ 12:14 AM
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