Category: Fundamentals

Over the past two years, I have shared with Easin’ Along readers two devotionals (click here and here) that I wrote for an Advent Devotional handbook given to members of our church. Our church did not publish a handbook this year, but my intention was to prepare a devotional anyway. I spent some time thinking about the subject matter around Thanksgiving but never could settle on a topic. My frustration continued until this week.

 A few days ago, I received our church newsletter which contained a very timely message written by our interim minister, Dr. Steve Eason. Dr. Eason is not only an exceptionally gifted speaker, but he is also an excellent writer, and his message spoke to me as someone who, at times, finds Christmas overwhelming. I asked Dr. Eason if I could reprint his message on Easin’ Along. He graciously consented, and his words are printed below.  Please read on because I am certain that, if things get a bit stressful over the holidays, his message will help bring into focus the reason for the season.

Grotto of the Nativity

You ever been to Bethlehem?

Some of you have. Underneath the Church of the Nativity is a grotto where early Christians claimed Christ was born. It’s a stone cave that would have been underneath a home. Animals would have been bedded there for the winter. It’s now a holy place. There’s a fourteen-point star on the floor that marks the spot where the Manger would have been. You can place your hand in a hole in the middle of that star and touch the stone where some claim this historical event occurred. Whether it did, or whether it didn’t, it’s a good place to remember.

There’s obviously a lot going on as we gear up to celebrate Christmas. Parties, concerts, parades, shopping, decorating, baking, travel, church, family, traditions, ending a semester, wrapping up the old year and preparing for a new one. All of that is happening at the same time. Holiday fatigue!

Then I think of that grotto, the oldest site of worship in Christianity. Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Coptics, Protestants….we all trace our heritage to that site. God did something there, on that spot, in real time, in a real place. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Cor. 5:19)

We can’t all go to Bethlehem. The important thing is that God went there in Christ. Everything was born there! Our salvation, our reconciliation with God, our hope, the gift of eternal life were all born there on that spot in Christ.

While all these other things are going on, I want to go back to Bethlehem in my mind and in my heart. I want to touch that stone and remember what happened there, in a simple cave, in a simple village, with simple people and an extraordinary God!

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! (John Francis Wade, “O Come, All Ye Faithful”)

About the author:

Dr. Eason received a B.A. from East Carolina University in 1976, M. Div. from Duke Divinity School in 1979 and D. Min. from Columbia Theological Seminary in 1993. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and transferred to the PCUSA in 1984. He has served as pastor/head of staff at churches of different sizes and his longest tenure was from 2002-2015 at Myers Park Presbyterian in Charlotte, NC which has a membership of approximately 4800. He left Myers Park voluntarily to pursue ministries “outside of his comfort zone” and spent a year as a church consultant with Macedonian Ministries, Atlanta GA during which he traveled the country working with churches to help them with a wide range of challenges. He now serves as an interim pastor at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Helen (adorable wife) joins me in sending a sincere wish that your holidays are filled with love, joy, happiness, and peace. We’re Easin’ Along now…with one hand holding a shopping list and the thought of the other hand reaching into that hole.  

When Helen (adorable wife) and I retired, we had different ideas on what activities would fill our days now that we had so much more time available. Helen’s well-developed plan included activities with several groups of long-time friends to keep her busy, as well as spending as much time with her grandchildren as possible. She was already active within our church and wanted to become even more involved.  Along the way, those plans expanded to include pottery classes and pickleball.

I, on the other hand, had few plans beyond travel, catching up on my reading, and doing a little writing. Eventually, my activity level increased as I found more activities that suited my interests.  I began to attend exercise classes at the YMCA; our love of travel led us to the laid-back RV lifestyle that we enjoy, and a desire to write led to Easin’ Along. Within a year or so, my activities intersected with Helen’s when a call came asking me to serve as an elder in our church and a new level of activity opened up that I enjoy tremendously.

I am in no way the busiest of church members, but I do chair one committee that has an important task this year involving the upgrade of our Media and Communications equipment. I also have the delightful job of serving as a greeter and usher for the early service on Sundays. Beyond those ongoing responsibilities, I try to help whenever asked to participate in activities like delivering meals or assisting with large meetings. Each activity has provided rewarding experiences and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate.

Every year, our church organizes a family camping trip held in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area near Oneida, Tennessee in a region identified as the Cumberland Plateau. Our only involvement in this activity is as participants, but we wouldn’t miss it, and this year’s trip was a true joy, accentuated by great weather and beautiful fall color.

 

Helen and I pulled into the campground and parked Gracey in the same spot we had last year. We were among the first to arrive although Richard had been there early in the day to greet the crew delivering firewood. The sky was gray and foggy, but there was a promise for better weather by morning. By the time everyone arrived and gathered in the pavilion for a delicious meal of potato soup, the clouds began to move out. Nevertheless, the evening was cold and large numbers stood before the roaring fire in the stone fireplace. A few slept even around that fire.

The first item on the Saturday morning agenda called for a pancake breakfast with plenty of bacon for some very hungry children. After cleaning up, someone organized a hike to Slave Falls, a sheltered waterfall at the top of a limestone bluff. Helen and I grabbed the hiking poles and joined about 40 others on the adventure. The temperatures were crisp, but the was no wind, and the trees shimmered in brilliant color. We were eager to take it in.

At the start point, our leader called everyone together for a headcount and pictures.  Excited children scampered about, but soon everyone stood still long enough to settle on an accurate number before we moved out on the trail. I almost got left behind. The leaves put on a show for us and I had a difficult time putting away the camera. This picture is a good example of the display Mother Nature put on for us.

As promised, the hike was along a moderate path and everyone arrived at Slave Falls without difficulty.  Slave Falls is not much more than a trickle, but, for a bonus, the Limestone formations along the trail and surrounding the Falls were enormous and gave a fascinating dimension to the hike. Every cell phone and camera went into action as soon as we arrived. The rocks and the trees gave photographers an excellent backdrop for photo ops.

From the Falls our leaders decided to take us to Needle Arch, a stone formation in the shape of a short bridge where we would take a quick lunch break. A few young girls decided to make the rest of our trek holding onto a piece of a tree limb they dubbed the “Magic Stick”.  Their stick performed its magic well enough for them to complete the hike safely and swiftly. I persuaded them to pose for me.

Our group made the short distance from Needle Arch back to the parking area in good time and soon everyone was back in camp for a free afternoon.  I listened to the Tenessee football game. Helen napped.

The evening meal consisted of hamburgers and hot dogs accompanied by a plethora of pot-luck side dishes. I had a burger and a dog but could have made an entire meal from the sides.  I tried. Church people are great cooks.

Later that evening, everyone surrounded a bonfire for songs and a short message led by Mark, one of our Ministers. The night was crisp, and the fire felt good.  I spared the crowd my singing voice but hummed along…out of tune.

On Sunday morning, Mark led us in a church service after breakfast.  A lectern was placed in the campground driveway to serve as a pulpit.  To the rear of the lectern, a splendid display of colorful hickory trees accented the outdoor sanctuary. Mark’s message left us inspired and grateful for this time of worship and the opportunity for fellowship in God’s great outdoors.

Sadly, it was time to leave for the drive home. Klaire captured the group photo shown below. Everyone looks very refreshed in the picture and justifiably so. I may not have planned my retirement in this way, but church activity has certainly been a very gratifying part of it.

From the Big South Fork, we’re Easin’ Along.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no love any greater than the love one feels for grandchildren. The four beautiful, smart, and healthy, and very active grandchildren that bless the lives of Helen (adorable wife) and me give us more joy than we can describe. The difficult part of this joy is that our treasured little ones live on each coast and that makes it a challenge to spend time with them. Nevertheless, we try as often as possible.

Our recent trip to Edisto Beach gave us an opportunity to share some fun with two of our East Coast granddaughters when their dad brought them to the beach for their first real camp out. Readers may remember that these two spent the night in Gracey back in May during our first trip to Edisto Beach State Park. We say that nights spent in Gracey are “glamping,” and the girls took to it very well.  With Apple TV games, good TV reception, warm beds, and a bathroom, what young child wouldn’t. The October trip would be a bit different…Dad brought the tent and sleeping bags. Helen and I made bets that tent camping wouldn’t last more than thirty minutes before the girls came knocking on Gracey’s door.

Dad and the girls arrived late in the afternoon after both played in morning soccer games.  If they were tired, they didn’t show it, and both asked to go to the beach as soon as they came from the car. Helen walked them to the beach to run off some energy while Dad put up the tent.

After the beach walk and dinner that included their favorite Mac and Cheese, we lit the campfire and passed out the makings for S’mores. Their grandmother led the charge and kept up with them as the marshmallows and graham crackers disappeared. By this time, I was ready to hit the sack and felt certain that they would be as well, but the girls seemed full of steam.  Dad had a remedy for that, however, and, after tucking them into their sleeping bags and reading Harry Potter to them by lantern light, both fell asleep after two paragraphs. The knock on Gracey’s door never came. The next morning I could hear both of them in the tent chanting “We love camping” over and over in an attempt to get their Dad up and out. Dad had achieved a win in the quest for more tent camping in the future.  

It was early in the day, and the campground was still full of sleeping campers, so Helen and I gathered the girls and walked to the beach.

The sun was about to rise over the ocean, and we have pledged that every beach sunrise is a “must see.” The girls were all in, and the sun cooperated splendidly. As a bonus, one of the girls found a whole sand dollar on the beach, a rarity these days. After breakfast and a little more beach time, Dad and the girls waved us goodbye and returned home to prepare for school the next morning.

Sad at being left behind, Helen and I secured permission to visit the school around lunch the next day to meet the teachers and see their classrooms. We made the one-hour drive in time to catch one them marching into the lunchroom with her classmates. She greeted us with a huge smile made us both feel welcome. The other granddaughter was not far behind.

Lunch is a highlight of the day. Laughter and loud chatter filled the room.  Once the children had their food, a teacher announced that quiet time was underway. A teacher came by to let us know that the children were not allowed to talk for ten minutes to make sure that they ate lunch and not talk the entire period. After ten minutes, talking was allowed for the remainder of the period. She told Helen and me that it was ok for the four of us to chat quietly. Good move, otherwise Helen would have exploded long before her ten minutes expired.

After lunch, the girl’s teachers invited us to their classrooms.  Both teachers made us feel welcome and had nice things to say about each granddaughter.  After only a few minutes of conversation, Helen and I both agreed that the girls were in good hands. The teachers seemed to love their work, and both girls said that they liked the teachers very much. Helen sat with them while they read some of their class material to us. One of the teachers took our picture with both girls (above) before one of them had to scurry back to join her classmates. Sadly, it was time for us to go as well, so we waved goodbye once again, then ventured into town for a lunch of our own.

We chose Blossom, one of Charleston’s best for lunch, and asked to be seated outside.  The day was gorgeous. Helen ordered the crispy oysters served over Brussel Sprout Slaw and a bowl of She-Crab Soup. I ordered White Seafood Chowder and the Fried Fish Roll. Both meals were exquisite and accompanied by Bloody Mary’s.

We’re still on vacation remember…and Easin’ Along!