Day 10 -- Watch on This Tenth Day of Advent and First Day of Hanukkah

I have read too many books. Okay, not really, but I've read enough that the word "watch" does not always bring up the best pictures. For the literary minded, there's that billboard in The Great Gatsby that is a bit freaky. I had to move past my immediate reactions to dig deeper into joyful meanings of "watch." I found them in three places: "Grandma, watch me!" "Shepherds watch were keeping," and the Maccabees watching in amazement as, according to the rabbinical commentary Gemara (Shabbat 21b), oil that would last only one day remained burning for eight days.

Why the granddaughter faced the shepherd and sheep in that direction, I'm not sure. Are they contemplating the hard climb ahead? Or are they in a valley, unaware that there will be a rough road ahead? Ah, but at the end of that rough road will be a blessing.

In the same way, after a great battle, the Jewish people dedicated their temple -- the Hebrew word for dedication is Hanukkah. While there is a reference to Hanukkah in the New Testament (John 10:22-23 -- "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade"), we can't be certain how it was observed beyond it being a Festival of Lights (as recorded by Josephus); nonetheless, the current observation is a beautiful one. The blessings recited are as follows:

We praise You, Eternal God, 
Sovereign of the universe: 
You hallow us with Your Mitzvot, 
and command us to 
kindle the Hanukkah lights. 

We praise You, Eternal God, 
Sovereign of the universe; 
You showed wonders to our 
fathers/mothers in days of old 
at this season. 

Children play a Hanukkah game called Dreidel (Yiddish for "to turn"). The dreidel is spun and when it falls, the Hebrew letter on top determines the amount won or lost (in our case, marbles).

The letters Nun, Gimmel, Heh, and Shin are the first letters of the following words: Nes Gadol Haya Shin which means "A great miracle happened there."

On the first night only of the eight days of Hanukkah, the following blessing, the She-heh-cheh'yanu, is said:

We praise You, Eternal God, 
Sovereign of the universe, 
for giving us life, for sustaining us, 
and for enabling us to reach 
this season.

For many, including for me and mine,  this has been a hard and difficult season, one in which a Gentle Shepherd has kept watch and we look forward to saying, "A great miracle happened there." 

The Lord is My Shepherd -- Joy on Day 21 of Advent

This is the envelope for one of my Christmas cards. It's beautiful. The entire card was designed by Susan Winget for the Lang company (no relationship, but I wish I was related -- I love their products).

Before I leave the Shepherds' Candle, and move on tomorrow to the Angels' Candle, I am reminded that the Lord is my shepherd.

My view of God is not meant to stay on Jesus as a baby, one sign that in His full divinity, He is also fully human. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and was the perfect Shepherd. "I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

Psalm 23 (22 in some of my international friends' Bibles) -- "The Lord is My Shepherd" is often said at services for the dead, but it is too often not remembered as a psalm for living joyfully here and now. A couple months ago, my classmates and I were challenged to make this psalm our own. I used to have my own students do this with poetry -- to write a poem modeled after the poem of some famous poet. It helped them not only write poetry but also to understand what the poet was saying.

I've received the forwarded emails about "Jesus is my shepherd; now that's relationship", and on through the psalm. The email somewhat does the analytical work for me. Exercises like these also make me realize that Jesus is not just a literal shepherd making me lie down in literal green pastures. He is 100 percent skillful at any job, and He is available to help me!

A friend knew I was struggling with some traveling issues. This is what she sent back to me:

"The Lord is my chauffeur. I am in utterly safe hands. He knows where I need to be; yet, he never hurries me. He helps me get myself together. He is unerring in his choice of road. In fact, he is famous for it. Even if I were caught up in a huge traffic jam or an accident, I would not have to worry for he always makes my ultimate welfare his priority. He would be there to calm me down and show me the right thing to do next. He packs an amazing picnic and lays it out in style. He always treats me with courtesy and respect--even in front of people who do not. He does more than I can ever ask of him. I know that I can rely on his capable and caring attention 24/7 and that I will travel with him always." (Thanks, Alison!)

What do you and I need help with today from our good shepherd, our chauffeur, our executive CEO, our Mother's Helper, our God who knows us and loves us and calls us His beloved sheep? He is there for us. "In His presence is the fullness of joy."