Posted on 12/24/2011 4:37:18 PM PST by Skooz
Merry Christmas everyone! My sincere hope is that all of you, each and every one, will have a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Just wondering if any others out there are spending this sacred night solo.
Besides my trusty Boxer, Django the Wonderdog, and a new edition to the household, a gorgeous long-haired black cat I have dubbed Jackson, I have the house to myself all evening and night.
Tomorrow, it will be family wall-to-wall at mom's house, complete with gifts and an excellent multi-calorie dinner. But, tonight, I'll enjoy a quiet supper and a nice cappuccino, watching "The Muppet Christmas Carol," and maybe "A Christmas Story." Probably turn in early.
Anyone else in Freeperland alone tonight? Just curious.
This one always puts it in perspective. From The Wall Street Journal.
In Hoc Anno Domini
When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.
When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.
Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.
But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression—for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largess to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed. What was a man for but to serve Caesar?
There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?
Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.
And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth.
So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders.
But it came to pass for a while in divers places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light. The voice said, Haste ye. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.
Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter’s star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.
And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This editorial was written in 1949 by the late Vermont Royster and has been published annually since.
Alone tonight but will be with daughter and husband at their house for Christmas.
Signing in! drinking Brooklyn Brewery
I feel for you, Gamer. But as someone said up-thread, as long as you’re a FReeper, you’re never alone.
Merry Christmas to ya.
yep
Right. :)
Me and the dogs here tonight but I’m going to my sister’s for dinner tomorrow.
Yes
Not alone, not with a wife and four kids who just got back from Christmas Eve at my in-laws
But Merry Christmas to you and the other solo Freepers.
BTW for Christmas movies to watch, I suggest the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol”, or the 1984 version with George C. Scott.
Hallmark Channel, ABC Family, and Lifetime always have cheesy made for TV Christmas movies, some of which are actually pretty good.
And if you want to be young at heart and move fast, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” followed by “The Year Without a Santa Claus” are on ABC Family. My kids are watching them before bed, I have them memorized already. :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
I am alone tonight.
My husband has Parkinson’s, had a crisis, spent the last week in the hospital to get over it, and is now in the TCU (transitional care unit) for rebailitation.
So, after 45 years of marriage, we are each spending our first Christmas eve apart from one another, and we both are lonely and sad. We are smart enough to know that our paths will soon be diverging, and we wish we could turn back the clock of time.
Eyes are getting a bit blurry at the moment, but I refuse to feel sorry for myself, because I know there are so many people out there who are also alone on Christmas eve, who feel much lonelier.
I am going to pray for them. I wish I could win Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes to make other people’s lives easier, with less worry about not being able to buy toys for their children, a present for their spouse, and get their bills paid up for the year.
The only concept I can put forward for us “aloners” is that God has promised us that we never are alone, that He is always there, and knows of our fear and pain.
I cling to that hope, and try my best to feel His presence when I am the most lonely. Sometimes, I can feel it, sometimes I can’t - but I keep on trying.
I am.
I am also about ‘footballed’ out, having watched games all afternoon. Not much else on TV, except reruns and Christmas programs — mostly for children.
I will pull up a movie on Netflix a bit later.
I’m enjoying a peaceful evening after cleaning up the house and preparing things for tomorrow’s party. Nice to have this quiet time.
As do I.
Iws it legal to have a wee dram of Jamesons on this sacred evening?
Merry Christmas!
Mark
I’m all by myself this evening. Watching TV and thinking about enjoying a beer. Merry Christmas, FReeperville!
My husband over-spent and stressed me out so much for 20+ years of Christmases, I feel very relaxed not doing anything for Christmas now. I'd like to go to Church tomorrow, since it will be one of the few Sunday mornings that I won't be sleeping.
Merry Christmas to all. May God bless you.
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