If you've ever been married, or in a long term relationship, then you'll know that there are times when you don't necessarily 'like' your mate. In fact, it's completely normal to have moments when the other half of you is wholly intolerable! The trick to these moments is to figure out ways to continue loving even when you're in the 'dislike' phase.

Too often what's supposed to be a choice that demands the very essence of our devotion to commit to, turns into a whirlwind mess because we don't take our decisions seriously and we choose not to fight hard enough to give enough of ourselves into making deep relationships work.

Faith is a lot like love, except for one huge difference. We can lose our faith for moments, but Lord help us if we lose our desire to love.*

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January 6th is Epiphany. Most people don't have any connection to the day because it's not your typical Hallmark event. If you don't follow any liturgical traditions then you've probably overlooked Epiphany.

Until the forth century BCE there was no Christmas on the 25th. The church only celebrated two major feasts. The first was obviously Easter. The second wasn't Christmas--it was Epiphany. In fact, originally Dec 25th was a celebration of the Epiphany (Nativity) so in a sense, Epiphany is actually Christmas for Christians. Continue reading →

"Messy Christmas" - R. Rossmo Dec 18, 2011.

Are you a Christmas scrooge or a Christmas fanatic? You know the ones. The Christmas fanatic pulls out the tree on November 1st, revel in ugly sweaters, shop till they drop, egg nog lattes, they still believe in Santa Claus, cover their house in yule tide trinkets, put Rudolph noses on their cars, and can't sleep a wink on Christmas eve in fear they'll miss opening presents at 7AM Christmas morn. Did I mention the Christmas fiend is 36 years old?

Conversely, the Christmas scrooge looks down upon the fiend. Anything 'Christmas' prior to Dec 24th is too early, they prefer to eat Chinese food than ham and turkey, find it a personal slight they have to venture into overcrowded malls to buy a reciprocal gift so they can fit in. Christmas scrooges lament on how everyone is living beyond their means, notes how our consumer senses are appealed and appeased by the endless bombardment to 'buy' and 'give', can't wrap gifts so uses newspapers or leftover birthday bags, and probably can chalk up their annual demeanour to some really poor experience from years past.

Not only are these extremes but I've noticed we can't really sit in the middle of this road, we tend to lean to one side (fanatic) or the other (scrooge). Which side do you picture yourself on?

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