1. Drive thru nativities. I've seen the signs at a few local churches. More than drive THROUGH, they're actually drive BY. Live nativities, set up beside the driveway so that people can take it all in from the comfort of their car. Really? Are we so busy and disconnected that we can't actually park the car and get out? Can we not stop what we're doing and quietly, reverently, stand before the Holy Family for just one minute? I wonder...
2. Deer hunting. (I didn't say my wonderings were connected.) The other evening I was standing at the kitchen sink looking through the window when an eight point buck slowly walked through the woods behind our house. He was majestic, bearing that large antler rack and looking for all the world like the crowned king of his domain. I watched him intently, the moment bordered on sacred; he was then joined by a young buck, (two points, fledgling antlers by comparison) presumably father and son, they picked their way through the trees and disappeared out of view. Who could actually shoot them? Who, armed with a weapon, could level the barrel of a gun at these magnificent creatures and squeeze that trigger? If it's a question of meat, there's plenty of !@#!*%$! squirrels out there...what's wrong with them? As far as sport goes, wouldn't our bushy tailed rodents offer even the most skilled marksman more of a challenge? Could "EAT MOR SKWUREL"* catch on?
12 comments:
Totally agree with both your wonderings and I have thought about them too. Even when the deer were eating my shrubs last winter, I knew it was because the snow was so deep that they were starving. How can someone shoot such a beautiful creature? And drive-by nativities....people think "short and sweet, get my Christ fix, and be on my way to shopping, parties, and things to do". I love our mid-week Advent services because we take time to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas and the real joy of the season. :-)
One of my favorite memories of Christmas growing up was riding out to the Jefferson Pilot compound near Jamestown to see the nativity. Their driveway was miles long and they had the Christmas story in full-size form spaced out along the drive so folks could come out and see. We didn't get out of the car (because it was dark and people had their lights off for the luminaries and we'd get smooshed) but we'd stop at every scene, listening to Christmas carols and being a family). I miss that. Drive through nativities we see now don't even come close.
And the deer? I never understood that either and I'm really thankful my husband gave that up for golf. (Though I think half the time he was hunting, he was really just sitting in a tree watching them go by.)
I am so glad I am not alone with all these kind of thoughts. We live in a world where instant gratification seems to be more important than anything meaningful.
We have seven deer that frequest our property and renew our spirit -they just watch us watch them.
This week a woman in the news who had been laid off was interviewed and her only concern was that Christmas would not be as good for her this year. I do not understand this thinking as I am from the older generation that believe a relignment of priorties should be in order. Judy C sends best wishes.
Thinking of you as Patty and her family (from PEI) have joined up with me in a visit to her mom's in Massachusetts. I leave Sat. for Christmas in TX. BTW, I HATE hunting and the hunting mentality. ~karen
My grandfather was a deer hunter ... he and I spent hours debating the merits (or demerits in my case) of the activity. Being the elder, he prevailed, but I still love seeing deer in the wild.
DRIVE BY nativities? Thankfully, that has not caught on here (yet).
I wonder....if you get out of the car, would they think you're gonna try and steal baby Jesus!?! Just a thought! lol I can just hear the conversation inside...."Martha! Martha! They're getting out of the car.....watch 'em!" lol
While we we looking for houses here in Maine, every time I went into one, first thing I'd say is...."Ugh, they have dead animals on the wall....CAN'T live here!"
I've actually never seen a "drive-by Nativity", so I haven't given that any thought. I do concur with your musings, though.
As for the deer hunting--don't get me started. It is a HUGE sport here in the Rocky Mountains, and it sickens me when I pass a home that has a deer carcass hung in the garage, or elsewhere visible, while they skin and prep it. The argument that they "need the meat" doesn't hold water. The gun, license and gear you have to buy to hunt these days is expensive--you could buy a cow for what some men spend on a hunt!
When my father was a young man struggling to support his family many decades ago, he went hunting for deer. After wounding a deer, but not killing it, he followed the blood trail for some time to try and find the animal and put it out of its misery, but he eventually lost the trail. It sickened him to think he had injured a creature and left it to suffer. He never picked up a gun again.
I am grateful that I married into a non-hunting family and my sons were not interested in becoming hunters, which in our little farming community is rare. There is a Hunter Safety center close enough that you can sometimes hear the guns going off, and Everybody signs their kids up for it--except us.
I'll get off my soapbox now--sorry to vent.
As cousin Catherine let us know, "Oh, Eddie doesn't eat squirrel anymore since he found out they were high in cholesterol"! Gotta love Christmas Vacation!! Other than that, can't think of a single reason NOT to shoot squirrel. Can't they "shoot" with a camera instead?
As for the drive-by nativities ..... you said it perfectly.
I am speechless about the drive by Nativity. I don't really uphold hunting unless it is for a bargain at the store.
I used to feel the same way about deer but then I moved into a rural area and found out that deer are not very nice neighbors. I consider them very big squirrels that will eat anything that's green, even lettuce growing in pots on a backyard deck. Therefore, whenever I have an opportunity to eat venison, I relish it. LOL
I used to feel the same way about deer but then I moved into a rural area and found out that deer are not very nice neighbors. I consider them very big squirrels that will eat anything that's green, even lettuce growing in pots on a backyard deck. Therefore, whenever I have an opportunity to eat venison, I relish it. LOL
Love this! You hit the nail on the head on both counts!
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