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Been to Bethlehem? An Advent Devotional

Posted on December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 by Easin' Along

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.

Fun

Gatlinburg – Two Years After the Fire

Posted on November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 by Easin' Along

Although we live within fifty miles of it, I can’t remember the last time I was in Gatlinburg. It’s probably been sometime in the last ten years, but certainly not in the last two. I needed to change that.

For those not familiar with this charming little village, Gatlinburg sits at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Eastern Tennessee. In the summer, crowds swell, lines form at the attractions, and parking can get a bit tight. It’s not the crowds that keep me away because I love to “people-watch” and the folks that fill Gatlinburg can be quite interesting. Therefore, I have no good excuse for not visiting more often unless I use the “it’s close, so I can go there anytime” excuse.

On this week two years ago, the town of Gatlinburg was ablaze in a wildfire of epic proportions. By the time brave firefighters contained the fire, 14 people were dead, over 2,000 structures had burned to the ground in addition to the 10,000 acres torched in the National Park. I have friends who lost businesses. Some have rebuilt, others are finally getting around to thinking about it now that the shock is over.

On Wednesday of this week, Helen (adorable wife) and I sat around the breakfast table watching a news feature on the second anniversary of the fire. I decided that I should go and see the effects of the fire, and the rebuilding efforts for myself. The day promised cold temperatures, but clear skies although the area had received a dusting of snow overnight. I was surprised but, Helen wanted to go as well. I guess it was too cold for pickleball.

My preferred route to Gatlinburg is to avoid I-40 and travel along Highway 441 so that I can keep the mountains in my view. In the distance, I could see snow on the higher peaks. There were no clouds in the sky. The usually bustling shopping malls in Pigeon Forge seemed to be in “pause mode” now that Black Friday had passed. Traffic was steady, but not stopped.

As we neared Gatlinburg city limits, Helen suggested that we take the by-pass and drive to Ober Gatlinburg, the ski resort that overlooks the city. As soon as we began the upward climb, we passed several buildings claimed by the wildfire. We stopped to look at one of the structures owned by some friends. It seemed to me that the passage of two years only increases the sadness of the devastation. I preferred to focus on the view.

Snow covered a portion of the grounds at the ski lodge and machines produced snow to cover the slopes at the rear of the lodge. The temperatures hovered in the twenties and no skiers had made it to the slopes, but a few were warming up for a run. I love to ski, and hope to have the opportunity again but, today was not the day.

Despite the fire, Gatlinburg seemed much like I remembered it from the days when I made regular visits on weekend getaways from college. Many of the motels and attractions had survived, and a few had even expanded beyond what I remembered. The only disappointment was that a favorite restaurant, McCutcheon’s, was now an Italian Bistro. Nevertheless, when I turned to the north, I could see an entire hillside with barely a twig left standing. This hillside is the location of the very popular Sky Lift that carried tourists to the top of the mountain and gave visitors an incredible view of the city and the mountaintops.

The Sky Lift remains, but the trees are long gone. The fire that destroyed the trees also burned a motel belonging to an acquaintance of ours. Having the flames come that close to downtown must have been horrific to tourists and townspeople alike.

Helen and I walked to one end of town and back, pausing long enough for a delicious lunch at the Pancake Pantry. The Split Pea soup hit the spot as did the cucumber salad. Half of the sandwiches ended up in a box so that we could take them with us and thereby save room for a stop at the Ol’ Smokey Candy Kitchen, another favorite from the old days. The rather unfriendly candy maker did break his stoic posture long enough to tell us he was making cinnamon taffy. We bought chocolate nuggets as well as some chocolate-covered toffee bars, then left before temptation completely overtook us.

Back at the starting point for our walk, we went into the Craft Show inside the Convention Center. Outside the Convention Center, a chainsaw artist created Black Bears. Some of them were pretty cute. Inside, one entire floor featured the works and art of various artisans. I watched while one of the artists gave a demonstration of her watercolor skills. Another lady showed the curious her technique for applying enamel to round river rocks. We avoided the impulse to buy anything but enjoyed strolling through the show. The crowd was somewhat light. At the end of our time there, we paused once again to listen to some beautiful music played on a hammer dulcimer. I have shared a brief portion of the music with you in the video below. You’ll love it.

Gatlinburg is on the way back. I’m glad we went and promised that it wouldn’t be two years before I return. I recommend it highly. It’s a great destination for Easin’ Along.

Near our parking lot, a sign displayed my new slogan for the holiday season. This music gave me a head start. Please share your Gatlinburg memories in the comments section. I’m certain you have some!

Fundamentals

Easin’ Along on a Wonderful Woodsy Weekend

Posted on November 23, 2018November 22, 2018 by Easin' Along

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.