Twelve Days of Christmas

          Several years ago, our interim pastor, Al Fry, introduced me to an alternate form or interpretation of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  If you do a little internet searching, the jury is still out as to the authenticity of the story.  But regardless if legend or fact, the concept is intriguing and the link to a memory challenge of Christian nature is great.  

          "The best known English version of The Twelve Days of Christmas was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake." (Direct quote from http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/advent/customs-and-traditions/the-history-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/)


          The story Rev. Fry related provided a more historical connotation from the 1500's when Catholics living in England were persecuted and forbidden to openly practice their faith in Anglican England.  Which came first, the song or the alternate words?  Who knows and I don't think it really matters. The legend says the words were a 'Catholic Code' somewhat used to flaunt their faith in front of the Anglicans.  Snopes.com (that wonderful fact-finding internet source) debunks this theory.  I found an internet article by Dennis Bratcher who gives extensive and thought-provoking background to the lyrics of the song.  http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html

          So....in the spirit of the Twelve Days, I thought I would switch to a 6 pointed mandala format and weave both the actual words and the Christian legend into one design.  Each day will include the previous day's 'gift', prayers, and the Christian tradition meaning.  I'll use various winter greenery or flowers for the outer border.  

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....
A Partridge in a Pear Tree!
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that will sacrifice self to keep predators from the nest.  (Luke 13:34)

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Two Turtle Doves! 
The two doves represent the Old and New Testaments, which together reveal God the Creator, God's people, and God's redemption of the world. 

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Three French Hens
The three hens represent the three theological values or virtues found in Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and Charity.  Many versions say Love in place of Charity.  Wish I had used Love instead....much shorter to get into the space!  Good day to include mistletoe....ties in with the love theme!  BTW, who is my true love?  God, of course!! 

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Four Calling Birds
The four 'calling birds' were probably originally 'collie birds' which is another name for blackbirds.  So I tried to color them with at least a little hint of blackness! But who are the birds calling?  I like to think they are calling to all of us in proclaiming the Good News of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  What is the news?  God has sent his Son to redeem a broken world. 

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Five Golden Rings
The five rings represent the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentatuch or Torah, basically the Hebrew Bible of that time.  This includes Genesis through Deuteronomy, the story of Creation and God's formation of a people through which God could connect with the world.  The Torah includes the world's fall from grace and God's continual response of forgiveness.  

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Six Geese a Layin'
The six geese (productive critters!) represent the six days of Creation.  I tried to represent each day in a separate 'window'.  1. Light and Dark; 2. Heavens; 3. Land and Waters; 4. Sun, Moon, and Stars; 5. Fish and Birds; and 6. Land Animals.  

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....
Seven Swans A-Swimming

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion. (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Eight Maids A-Milking
The eight maids represent the eight beatitudes expressed in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-10):  1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

Nine Ladies Dancing

The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.  (Galatians 5:22)

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....
Ten Lords a-Leaping
The ten Lords refer to the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament: 

1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Eleven Pipers Piping
Who are the eleven pipers?  The eleven LOYAL apostles (we don't count Judas who betrayed Jesus!)

The eleven faithful are Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16)

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The number twelve refers to the Twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

The best known English version was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.
The best known English version was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.
The best known English version was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.
The best known English version was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.
The best known English version was first printed in English in 1780 in a little book intended for children, Mirth without Mischief, as a Twelfth Night "memories-and-forfeits" game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet. One hundred years later, Lady Gomme, a collector of folktales and rhymes, described how it used to be played every Twelfth Day night before eating mince pies and twelfth cake.

Advent and Christmas Mandala Prayers

     Early in December I decided I had so much fun drawing November prayers from ONE stencil design that I would try it again, only twice as many, during Advent!  Early designs had more to do with various seasonal icons I saw in the pattern, then whatever activities were going on that day.  Toward the end?  I began using our church's Advent Window devotions as my inspiration.  Eventually I will probably add an Epiphany design to complete the series.  

ADVENT #1 "Getting Started"  
The patterns of the stencil were cut with the holly and candy canes in mind.  I should have remembered I would be using those same lines over and over.  It made this exercise a challenge!  Throughout all the designs you can usually easily find the arrow like shape pointing inward.  

ADVENT #2  "Poinsettia"
I could have just as easily titled this design Christmas tree.  As I studied the pattern I saw the layers of pine boughs, laden with fresh snow.  The holly cut was altered to form a poinsettia leaf.  

ADVENT #3  "Snowman"
Just as quickly as I saw the tree boughs, they transformed into the ball of a snowman's body and I had my inspiration for today!  

ADVENT #4 "Star-Flake"
I wanted to use the holly pattern again, and some creative line connections transformed the curved shapes into a snowflake.  The title comes from combining the snowflake with the inner star pattern.  

ADVENT #5  "Evergreens and Popcorn"
How in the world did the center of the design morph into a pine cone?  The holly cut was easy to transform into a light bulb.  I had fun making a popcorn garland for my 'evergreens'!  

ADVENT #6 "Women's Support Group Party"
I hosted a gathering of women today and we played a game with Jed's old reindeer stuffed toy (can you find the holly lines there?), exchanged socks, and Mom traded away a glitzy snowflake ornament for a Christmas bell.  In the center?  I served cinnamon rolls!  

ADVENT #7  "Let It Snow!"
Today it snowed....inches and inches of white powdery fluff!  There was no doubt where my prayer drawing was going to lead this day!  

ADVENT #8 "Christmas Lights and Santa Joy"
I liked the lacey look of the outer ring of the snowflake yesterday, so I used that same design concept for my Christmas lights!  The rest was a merry mix of candy canes, peppermints, and Santa hats!  

ADVENT #9 "Zentangle Plaid"
I thought I would just use some Zentangle style patterns today in my design, but my initial sketching in the center began to look like a tartan plaid.  With a maiden name of McLean it didn't take long for plaids to dominate in the background.  My son Jed taught me a new technique with my Paint.Net program and I was able to import the McLean tartan plaid into the background of the design!  Sweet!  

ADVENT #10  "Songs of Christmas"
Today was Sunday, the 20th of December, and it was a music filled day.  I was directing a one-time choir during worship which also involved the tone chimes.  We practiced tone chimes after worship in preparation for Christmas Eve.  And then....we went Caroling with the tone chimes.  Whew!  

ADVENT #11  "Lenten Windows - Sheep"
Running out of ideas and I was feeling somewhat guilty for not contributing any reflections on our massive Advent Window Calendar on the north side of our church fellowship hall.  The shepherds had to bring their sheep with them to the manger.  The question for thought....What are the practicalities of your life that come with you as you seek the sacred?  I tried to embed my responses in the green holly shapes.  

ADVENT #12 "Advent Windows - Candles"
On this the longest night of the year, the darkness of our world, the pain and the sorrow, seem to linger.  I used the candle theme to include the four advent candles, the white of Christ candles, stars and light.  I wrote, "Longest night, night skies, and candles in the darkness bringing light to all....Can we possibly all be candles to the world?"

ADVENT #13 "Advent Windows - Manger"  
The theme for this prayer came from Sunday's worship also as we prepared the manger to welcome the Son of God.  We sang a song, 'Cloth for the Cradle' as we laid strips of cloth on the manger.  The reflection question asked 'Where have you prepared a space for hope and love to enter?  I wrote, "As I was drawing my prayers, I realized the song Cloth for the Cradle was running through my mind...preparing the manger for the baby Jesus.  We prepare by actively making room in our hearts, our day, our lives, our schedules, for that which Christ calls us to do."

ADVENT #14 "Advent Windows - Doves of Peace"
The dove was actually the picture earlier in the month for the windows, but I wanted to include it now.  As I sketched, an image of stained glass doves emerged.  

ADVENT #15  "Christmas Story"
How do you wrap up the Christmas story in just one design? Angels singing, shepherds and sheep, and the LIGHT of the world in a tiny baby. Full moon tonight to add to the magic and wonder of it all!

EPIPHANY - January 6
I'll wrap up my Christmas Season Prayer designs with this final Epiphany Star.  I confess I didn't use the same stencil, but rather combined two techniques for radiating patterns.  Hidden within you can find the words, Star, Wonder, Bright, Perfect Light, and Holy.  May we take each day of this new year and find the wonder, find the bright and positive, seek the holy, always guided by that perfect LIGHT.  Happy Epiphany!  

November Mandala Series

          From Veteran's Day until the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, I was traveling to California for a 60th Anniversary Celebration of the church in which my father was the organizing pastor and to Bandon, Oregon, to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, Mom, and brother, Mac.  It was a time filled with sister fun, family, re-connections and memories.  It was a busy time.  I pretty much put my Ortberg book back in the pack and simply drew prayer mandalas throughout it all!  Eight mandalas with different themes, but all created from the one stencil I cut on Veteran's Day before I left.  It became an artistic challenge to see how many different styles, colors, and images I could create from that one stencil.  And yes, the prayers were important too!

Design No. 1  Veteran's Day.  Military branch colors.  

Design No. 2 ....visiting Judy Marshall and Rodgers enroute to Bandon to pick up my Mom and sister, Liz.  

Design No. 3    I was thinking rainbows here.  I think this was started in the hotel room in Yreka! 

Design No. 4  California inspiration.  Camellias from Margaret's yard, palm trees everywhere, and plenty of sunshine.  Dog prints in tribute to the four dogs commonly in residence at my sister's house. 

Design No. 5  I decided to put the prayers into the empty spaces rather than the lines.  Perhaps a bit of a Celtic look as I attempted to interweave many of the lines. 

Design No. 6    What would happen if the inside was black?  It was snowing in Baker City, hence the snowflakes, but also back to rainbow colors to try and brighten the prospects!  Threw a little Zentangle design in for fun. 

Design No. 7   GIVE THANKS!  Cornucopias, turkey drumsticks, and Gobble!  

Final Design No.8  Ode to Bandon by the Sea:  Waves, moonsets and sunsets, starfish and seaweed.  

THE LIFE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED (Ortberg) - Chapters 8-10

The following devotions are based on the book THE LIFE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED (Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People) by John Ortberg  (Zondervan, 2002)  All text in red italics is a direct quotation from the book. 

CHAPTER 10:  A LIFE OF FREEDOM –

The Practice of Secrecy

• In general, the soul makes greater progress when it least thinks so….most frequently when it imagines that it is losing. (St. John of the Cross)
• To whom do I belong?  To God or to the world!  Henri Nouwen
• Some people live in bondage to what others think of them….might be called ‘approval addiction’. (158)
• When we have the grace to be free in the presence of those who judge our lives and evaluate our actions, we have Christian freedom. (Lewis Smedes)
• One of the fine arts of gracious living is the art of living freely with our critics. (Smedes)
• When Jesus spoke, he was free from the need to create an impression.  He was free to speak the truth in love. (160)
• Our ‘generalized other’ is a composite of all those in our lives whose thumbs up or thumbs down signal carries emotional weight with us. (161)….parents, teachers, peer group, boss, co-workers, family, neighbors. 
• Part of the irony of the generalized other is that it is not really other at all – it’s what we THINK others are thinking. 
• I am only a small part of a much larger movement and that at the end of the day there is only one King whose approval will matter….God.
• We are not the passive victim of others’ opinions.  Their opinions are powerless until we validate them.
• Being addicted to approval is not the same as having a healthy appreciation for praise.  164
• Receiving praise gracefully; without becoming an addict, requires a well-ordered heart. 166
• Indicators of approval addiction:  comparison, deception, resentment.

Treatment for Approval Addiction: Secrecy

• True spiritual maturity means that we don’t feel the need to congratulate ourselves because we’ve gotten something right. 168
• Join the club for recovering approval addicts that might be called ‘Righteous Anonymous’. 
• The practice of secrecy exists to liberate those who are trapped by the desire ‘to be seen’, to impress others. 168
• Resign from Impression Management – we put out disclaimers to make sure the other person is thinking about us the way we want to be thought about. 
• Secret Practice of Good Deeds – Look for opportunities for practicing secret acts of kindness and senseless beauty. 170
• Acts of servanthood done to impress others lose their intrinsic power to help us enter the life of the kingdom.

May we strive to be what Winston Churchill once called his opponent, ‘a modest little man, with much to be modest about’. 

CHAPTER 9: THE GUIDED LIFE –

Receiving Guidance from the Holy Spirit

There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once.  On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs.  But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathing.  Thomas Kelly

1 Kings 19:11 GNT A Gentle Whisper

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

• It is one thing to speak to God.   It is another thing to listen. (140)
• If I am to have a relationship with God that is in any sense personal, I must be open to the possibility that sometimes God does speak directly to me. (142)
• Why should God’s end of the line be equipped with a receiver but no mouthpiece? (143)
• One reason why we fail to hear God speak is that we are not attentive.  We suffer from what might be called ‘spiritual mindlessness’. (144)
• God can directly guide my thoughts without the aid of intervening sounds or images. (146)
• Like Jacob’s stone altar, we need our own pillars to remind us to listen. (146)

Genesis 28:16,18 GNT

Jacob woke up and said, “The Lord is here! He is in this place, and I didn't know it!”…. Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. 

COMMENT:
Jacob's stone pillar reminded me of Joshua's stone memorial on the banks of the river - testimony to God's presence and action.  What reminders do we set up around us to remember God?  We wear crosses, we carry a 'cross in the pocket', we put up sayings on our walls, or leave our Bibles displayed prominently (hopefully not just collecting dust).  God is here IN THIS PLACE!  If we are truly in touch, we don't need the reminder because we feel that presence all the time.  Stop and listen!  God is speaking to us in so many different ways!

Numbers 22:28 GNT  
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH A DONKEY

Then the Lord gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?”

WHAT GUIDANCE IS NOT:

• “Insider Information”…Ask yourself how often do I seek God’s guidance when I’m not facing trouble or a difficult decision. 
• A Badge of Spirituality or Importance….God communicates with whomever he chooses.
• The Same Thing as Passivity….you can’t assume what happens as a result of passivity is the will of God.
• A Way to Avoid Taking Risks….God’s purpose in guidance is not to get us to perform the right actions.  His purpose is to help us become the right kind of people. (150)  That means making decisions!

COMMENTS:  Each of this 'qualifiers' on guidance has merit, but I especially want to comment on the last one.  If God wanted us to be 'fail proof', God would tell us what to do EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!  But like good parents, children are taught through making mistakes and learning from them.  God doesn't worry when we don't do something right, as long as we are becoming 'right' in the process.  Children learn through decision making and consequences.  So do we.  God doesn't want little robots doing his command, but loving humans who respond with love without being told to do so all the time!  

Luke 12:12 MSG

Don’t worry about ….what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.”

PURSUING THE GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT

• Listen for the Spirit Continually.  This is a learned skill – the ability to have that gentle receptiveness to God at all times.    As you listen to people, listen also for what the Spirit is saying. (152)
• Be relentlessly responsive.  Don’t just listen.  Respond to God’s leadings to the best of your ability.  When we fail to respond, we lose touch with our hearing.
• Listen for the Spirit’s Voice in the Words of Others.  God speaks not only to us, but through us. (153)
• Practice listening in small matters.  God’s guidance is not limited to momentous decisions, but it may involve God’s gracious attention to small details. (155)

John 1:14 MSG

The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.

We cannot be transformed if we close ourselves off to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (156)

Psalm 121: 3-4 GNT
He will not let you fall;  your protector is always awake.

The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps.

CHAPTER 8: LIFE BEYOND REGRET –

The Practice of Confession

Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous.  So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy…He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone.  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Psalm 19:12 VOICE

Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong?
    Forgive my hidden and unknown faults.

• Confession is not primarily something God has us do because he needs it.  God is not clutching tightly to his mercy, as if we have to pry it from his fingers like a child’s last cookie.  We need to confess in order to heal and be changed. (129)
• Many of us struggle, not so much with understanding the message of forgiveness, but with living in the reality of it. (129)
• Confession that helps us experience the power of forgiveness is a process, not a single act. (130)

Psalm 51:1-4, 10  GNT

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!
Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!

I recognize my faults;  I am always conscious of my sins.
I have sinned against you—only against you— and done what you consider evil.

Create a pure heart in me, O God,
    and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

SIX STEPS TO CONFESSION

1.     Preparation. 

We begin by placing ourselves into the care of the Spirit and asking for help. (130)

2.      Self-Examination.

Confession should be specific, concrete, and particular.  (131)  --Think through the categories of sins, the 10 Commandments, etc.

Confession means saying that somewhere in the mix was a choice and the choice was made by us, and it does not need to be excused, explained, or even understood.  The choice needs to be forgiven. (132)

Matthew 7:3-5 MSG

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

3.   Perception.   Two Questions: Why?  What Happened?

Sin carries with it a certain moral myopia…it distorts our ability to detect its presence. (132)

We need to see our sin through new eyes.  We need to see them through the eyes of those against whom we have sinned. (134)

True confession involves entering into the pain of the person we have hurt and entering into God’s pain over sin. (134)

Why did I do what I did?  Sin is usually tied to some need or another. (134)

What happened as a result of my sin?

Mark 2:15-17 MSG

Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?”  Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 GNT

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation—and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

4.     A New Feeling.

Godly sorrow is a fitting response to our wrongdoing.  Wordly sorrow produces death.

Confession can safely be made only in the context of grace.  Feelings of remorse are no guarantee of authentic repentance, and they can be highly destructive. (135)

Luke 19:1-10 GNT

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”

5.     A New Promise.

Confession is not just naming what we have done in the past.  It requires a kind of promise for the future.  (137)

We resolve that, with God’s help, we will change. (138)

6.     Healing Grace.

The final step in confession – the top of the mountain – is grace.  Not just the idea of grace, but grace as a reality, being immersed in it, given life by it. (138)

COMMENTS:  Sin isn't something we like to talk about.  We use euphemisms for the word and pretend that because of grace, we don't need to worry about it.  We claim that we don't sin BIG (murder or theft or adultery) so the LITTLE hurts and slights against one another don't really count.  I found the six steps to confession to be a new process I hadn't considered before.  Specific confession helps us focus on the common errors of our ways much more than general "Forgive me for whatever I've done wrong".  The latter confession doesn't lead to change or the new promise.  It doesn't help us identify the choices we make on a daily basis that bring others down or fail to nurture one another.  It can be a sin to not get sharing cards in the mail!  It can be a sin to put off making that phone call that would mean the world to another.  Most of us don't sin BIG, but the baby sins of OMISSION can add up quickly.  
Time to get busy and go mountain climbing....on Confession Mount. 

November 2-5, 2015