LA SIERRA BLOG

Blogging Through the Seasons

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Advent 2018

Advent 12: Here’s Hoping

I miss the good old days. Things were happier then, you know? Simpler. Less death, less war, less injustice, fewer despots, fewer immigrants, fewer threats to health and happiness. Confession—I’ve actually never been one to believe in the good old days. It seems...

Advent 2018

Advent 11: Peace in Being Enough

Now that I’m a mom, Christmas has a different kind of vibe, and I’m not sure I’d quite call it magic. The busyness isn’t so much joyful as it is chaotic. The programs and parties and gatherings (manifesting in the constant scramble for the last minute for potluck dishes and white elephant gifts)…

Advent 2018

Advent 10: Let There Be Peace on Earth

I wondered, if we can’t make peace here now, how will ALL the people EVERYWHERE accomplish it? Such a great need for peace and the idea that world peace could somehow begin with me was crippling. I was a great line leader (according to my elementary teachers at the time), but I didn’t think I could lead such a line for the world.

Advent 2018

Advent 08: It’s the people all around me

When am I out of my comfort zone? When a favorite pastor asks me to contribute to a blog. How could I not tell of my God who has done so much for me? A God who give my life purpose, unconditional love, forgiveness of my mistakes. The God who wants to know each of us...

Advent 2018

Advent 07: For Peace

The archaeologist peers at a recently excavated wall of dirt and stone and observes a dark horizontal strata of earth, “. . . beautiful example of a destruction layer . . . high carbon composition, likely result of fire, destruction . . .” The student underlings listen and nod and ponder the meaning of this dark line; I imagine flaming timbers, the burning of villages and houses,