To Bethlehem, Singing. A Note From Jan. Jud's Journal Entry Forty-Five.

Saturday night live Sorta Looked down at my scuffed shoes Felt a Jud nudge He, experienced shiner of our shoes, polished them to make them last more than for aesthetics shined them when needed needed now

My shoes, dulled by storms and scuffling about, matched my mood as I rushed a brush through my hair before meeting Kristina, my daughter-in-love, my date for the Christmas Gala at Gordon Saturday night, December 6, while Chad tended the girls.

Smudged glasses Jud cleaned mine “Jan, how can you see through these?!” I, sheepish, occasional distorter of biblical truth, replied, “I see through a glass darkly … .” Jud would begin cleaning, shaking his head, rolling his eyes. I miss those eyes.

My date Kristina sparkled.  I felt smudged from head to toe. When we arrived at the pre-Gala reception, I muttered, “I’m heading for the bathroom.” Avoidance, yes!

Cowering in a stall half dreading venturing forth half desiring the company of others. missing that arm, the strength of Jud, my date for  55 years. We loved this event. First time back for the Christmas Gala since we retired in 2011.

God of Abraham, Kristina, Jud and me, please help. Here’s my speck, one small faith seed offered to the ONE who knows how to grow it into LIFE Please take my weakness and fear You know what I need strength not a ton just enough to leave the women’s room.

Gourmet food at the reception, spectacular decorations all over campus the hugs oh, the hugs all so healing. warm welcomes, a few awkward questions, thoughtful remembrances of Jud from the NETworks.

Next God showed up through music so many voices, and instruments

Brass,string, woodwinds and more He came playing a violin and through the lyrics sung by the Men’s Choir, while I drew strength from Kristina and solace from the music.

“Who is He who stands and weeps at the grave where Lazarus sleeps? Who is He in Calvary’s throes asks for blessings on His foes? Tis the Lord, O wondrous story! Tis the Lord, the King of glory.”

And that final Christmas carol … Choirs, orchestra and all us Saturday folks all together now rising to sing some quick standing on youthful knees and joints others slow and deliberate, like I the faithFULL, the faithLESS, the mustard seed speck-of-faith folks singing as one for a while aLIVE on a Saturday night.

“O come, all ye faithful. Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold HIM Born the King of Angels: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”

Jud and I sometimes dropped our duties and took off for Bethlehem. Or, rather, a stand in. 

A Bethlehem symbol. Some small place a chair in a corner a place in the heart or mind a pew alone in the car on the beach the peace garden at MGH where we sat, not always “joyful and triumphant” nor always side by side or with Bible in hand but purposeful determined even desperate to meet Christ the Lord! LIFE

And time after time, year after year, and especially in these past few months, Jesus sat with us in our shared Bethlehem cradling speaking listening loving tending Jud me Jesus, the shepherd we, simply sheep HIS sheep

God came but with no fanfare, angels, if any, were incognito no attention grabbing star just whispered words to needy Saturday sheep

“Fear not.”

As old as the hills Judean hills and long before that. “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for ALL the people. Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a SAVIOR has been born to YOU; he is Christ the Lord.” (from Luke 2)

A Savior! If that isn’t good news … . Can’t imagine this day without a Savior. That JOY for ALL. More than words More than lyrics to a Christmas carol.

But singing’s a good place to start. ALL together now “O come, ALL ye…”

There’s LIFE in Bethlehem.