Dearly Beloved,…
Dearly Beloved,
Jadon and Joseph (my grandsons) wrestle with the Bad Donkey Wrestling Club in Clovis. Perhaps you can imagine another word for donkey and get the cryptic meaning behind the club’s name. They train boys and girls in the fine art of mastering their minds and bodies with subtle moves. They learn more than just how to dominate their opponents, they learn how to control their own thoughts and actions.
On this particular day Joe was using Papa Bryan’s Taxi Service to get to wrestling practice. Joe takes advantage of our alone time together to ask important questions about life, family, and friends. This time he asked me to pray for a class mate who was having surgery, it was something to do with his kidney and he would be out of school for two weeks. Then Joe asked, “Papa how did you get to be so wise?” I thought that was an interesting question coming from a nine year old.
“Wisdom comes from education and experience, Joe.” I’m not sure about how much and what kind of education makes one wise, but I wanted to reinforce the importance of an education. I am sure that life experience teaches wisdom. “I’ll bet your friend will gain some wisdom as a result of having life threatening kidney surgery,” I said. To which Joe replied, “My other friend broke his pinky finger, he is very wise.”
Christmas makes me think of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus. Why is it that wisdom is often associated with children, as when young Joseph asked me about wisdom and wise men sought baby Jesus? It is because we, young and old, are seekers of answers to the difficult questions of life.
What I love the most about Christmas is the answers it provides. Answers to questions like; Is there any hope for the world? How can we find any peace? Where is the joy? How can we grow in love? It also answers the question about how to have satisfaction in life; by being grateful for everything we are and have (such as it is) and sharing our gifts of love with others.
Of course I didn’t learn all those things in school. Well, I learn ABOUT them in school, but I experienced them in life and I am still learning/experiencing them. Maybe that is why I appear to be so wise in Joe’s eyes. Christmas reminds me that what really makes me so wise and happy is being surrounded by family, like Joseph, and friends, like you.
This Christmas I’m thinking about the hope, peace, joy and love of God; the mystery revealed in Jesus, and how people like you make my experience of life so beautiful. Merry Christmas my dear friend! Merry Christmas indeed!
With Love, Bryan
