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Ears that WHAT?

I Samuel 3.1-10 and I Samuel 3.10-20

I remember reading this story of the call of Samuel to my young daughters at bed-time -it was a favorite. Of course the animated illustrations of a little boy with sleepy eyes always made it fun. But our girls could relate to this young boy, who looked to be just about their own age. They could relate to this young boy who had awoken from a deep sleep, confused about whether what he dreamt was real --or just that, a dream. They could relate to this young boy who sleepily left his bed in the middle of the night to go to a grown-up’s bedside. They could relate to a young boy who was ready to say, “Here I am.”

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The Hangover

Philippians 3.12-16

We hear the same thing from both adults and kids. “I wish Christmas could last all year!” It’s so much fun. It’s exciting. Hope, love, peace and joy are in the air. The decorations and trees are coming down, Santa has left the square, and they will even stop playing Christmas music in the stores and on the radio.

It’s enough to leave many with a sort of hangover. Not a physical hangover that some might be feeling this morning. However, if we were paying attention to the Christmas story, and the rest of the gospel, we realize that the party isn’t over with Jesus’ birth, it’s just getting started.

2011, A Year to Leave Behind