This Little Light of Mine will Shine.

Blogging is new to me. I am very excited to have the opportunity to think, write and reflect. As of today, this is my little world - one that I do not share with anyone. But why? Do I have anything to hide? The good Lord knows my life is an open book. There are very few people that don't know just about everything about me. This Christmas Eve I spent time with Kristi and her family. Just like I have done for more years than I can count. Minus only the times I actually went to Phoenix for Christmas for the short time that Kristi and I were not talking. We were both young, stupid and immature about friendships. Our friendship has lasted the test of time and we have been friends for for more than 20 years - good times and bad times. I hate to admit that I have not spent too much time going to church this past year. This both makes me feel sad and okay with my decision to not attend. It has nothing to do with the church, the people or the ministers. I love my church - my history with this church. I spend a lot of time doing things for others. By Sunday's come around, I am spent. I want to sleep in, do something for me, or work on school things. I almost always work Sunday's. Is is wrong to not be up at 10:00am ready for the day to run until 10pm? I like my little routine I have, I slept in, I do something around the house or my classroom and then I go to work. On Christmas Eve, Kristi's family saved a spot for us to sit. However the church was full and there was not enough room - kind of like the inn. I went a couple of rows back and sat with a very old friend Jan. It was great to sit and chat. We sang the old hymns and watched the children do the service. This is my favorite service of the night. At the end of the service we each light a candle and hold it up high and sing Silent Night, Holy Night. It is tradition. The acolyte came over and lit Jan's candle, then she lit mine and I lit the person next to me and so forth. Just like my faith, my candle dimmed and then eventually burned out. But just like my life/faith, I have a great friends who noticed that my candle has dimmed or burned out and they gently light my candle. As Jan re lit my candle, this time my flame was strong. As I stood there and sang that old Christmas hymn, my candle burned brightly and added to the light of the world. Just like my life and my faith!