Evergreen: The Origins of the Modern Christmas Tree
It is difficult to imagine Christmas without a Christmas tree. It is one of the most vivid and recognisable symbols of this festive time of year. Although the origins of this tradition are very…
Month: December 2016
Winter Solstice: The Year’s Compline
The winter solstice is the year withdrawing From all the busy-ness of being-ness, And life in all its transfigurations Seems lost beyond this cold, mist-haunted world Time almost stops. Low-orbiting, the sun Drifts dimly, drably…
Letters from Bidbid
When Colleen first opened her son’s latest letter, she had been ecstatic. It had been six months since he’d been writing from his outpost in Oman. Most of them came from Bidbid. It surprised…
Snow Globes
The pine trees stand tall and firm on the hillside, silent sentries to the children’s fun. Their needles shake in the wind as the children’s laughter echoes off the hills. The children rush towards…
Faith and Fantasy: Tolkien the Catholic, The Lord of the Rings, and Peter Jackson’s Film Trilogy
Note: This article refers to important, even climactic plot points in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings necessary to this overview of the spiritual significance of Tolkien’s work. If you haven’t read the books…
Born in Your Heart: Mary's "Yes" and Why It's Relevant Today
The Christmas Season has been my favorite time of year ever since I can remember. When I was a young child, and even as a teenager, it was mostly a fascination with the presents and…
First Yule: A Lord of the Rings Story
Sam rose late from his afternoon nap to find the smial entirely dark, except as he walked closer to the parlor he saw two candles burning with another set a bit apart. Then as he watched, more…
Those Pretty Little Christmas Songs: A Caroler's Overview
As our Christmas caroling quartet strolls around the upscale shopping center in our Charles Dickens era attire, complete with top hats for the men and capes and muffs for the ladies, the shopping center…
30 Years Outatime: A Review of “Back to the Future”
Few films attain an iconic status that allows them to stand the test of time and remain relevant to each successive generation so that it becomes a cultural institution that transcends time and has a…
Winter Tree
I saw her standing bent Upon the snow, Shivering with each icy Blast of wind. Her tattered rags hung loose Upon her form, Remains of all her bright And splendid robes. She dreams of…