Snow Falling

I'm sitting on a loveseat in my kitchen, looking out the window at snow softly falling in my backyard. The trees are bare, although some have a few brown leaves refusing to let go. The brown grass is almost completely covered by the white blanket. It doesn't look like a storm, just millions of white specks quickly falling. My guinea pigs are making little rustling and nibbling noises and that is the only sound. I love the way that snow muffles the world.

I guess I'm feeling a quiet today. Not necessarily sad, just quiet. I found out that one of my favorite actors died yesterday, and although I obviously didn't know him, I am going to miss his ability to tell a story. With just a few days to go before Christmas, it just reminded me that there are more important things in life than media. Sometimes I forget that the rest of the world doesn't get caught up in stories the way that I do. Even if they do, there are real people behind the stories. I remember when Stephen King was hit by a van while walking on the side of the road. There were several people who told me that they were worried he wouldn't be able to finish The Dark Tower series. On one hand, I think that's an insensitive statement. How could people be concerned about a book series when a man almost lost his life and is probably going to be in pain for a very long time? Yet, it's a testiment to his storytelling ability that his readers were scared that they wouldn't be able to continue living in the world he created or find out more about the characters they knew. In a similar way, I'm sad that I won't be able to see John Spencer continue to play Leo McGarry on The West Wing.

So, I guess that while the lives of people are much more important than stories -- there is something vital about stories. I was reading in the Gospel of Mark yesterday morning and it just struck me again how much Jesus spoke in stories. There was even a verse that said he spoke in parables to the crowds. Instead of giving them a list of principles, he gave them a story.

As Christmas is coming and we are thinking about the story of Christmas, I hope that you will think about that baby in the stable as much more than a sweet story we sing about. Jesus is part of our world today and he is living and active. I am grateful that the Story continues and he has allowed me to be a part of it. Merry Christmas and may the blessings of our Lord be upon you and yours.