The magic number has been found and it is not 42: it’s 350. That’s the concentration in ppm (parts per million) of CO2 we need to keep at maximum in the atmosphere.
For all of human history, the concentration was around 275ppm. We’ve now raised it to 385 with burning of fossil fuels. So, we need to work at getting it down – to at least 350.
More info and sign up with your support: 350
The homily for Christmas Eve talked about research that suggests the “no room in the inn” is better translated “no room in the guest room”. Middle Eastern practice was to have a room for guests, and since Mary and Joseph were returning to their home town, they would stay with relatives. But since many relatives where making the same trek, the first guest room was full.
Apparently the second place to put up relatives was the room off the house where the animals stayed when it was cold.
So the picture might more accurately be that in the second guest room at the home of relatives Mary gave birth to Jesus. Probably well cared for by fussing aunts.
Not a lonely birth by a frightened teen in a back shed. I find this comforting, in a way. And I wonder then how the visit of the shepherds was seen by the family. They might have pondered that as well.
And so, on the sofa bed in the living room, where the overflow guests stay, Jesus is born. Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!
I have a good friend who has mental illness. Mental health really is a continuum: from health to un-health / illness. We’re all somewhere along it. It isn’t really an either / or of you’re either healthy or you’re ill.
Right now he’s not on the health end. Sadly, he’s not even close. As I walk with him, I see confusion, and anger, and fantastic or strange ideas. I wonder about demonic influence. I recall that the last period of time when he was ‘well’, he really wasn’t as well as when I first met him, which was before another episode down this dark road.
He used to make funny jokes. He was a strong advocate for housing rights. He sat on many community boards and made worthwhile recommendations. He worked part time at a job he enjoyed.
I remember the good that he did, and the God who is good that lived in him. What does it mean for him that “God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” ?
Will the past tenses of “used to make”, “was a strong advocate”, “sat on boards”, “worked” ever become present again? If I’m not sure I can truly hope for him, can I have hope for myself when I experience darkness myself?
I cry for mercy. I pray for healing. I grieve for what has been lost. I choose to hope for healing yet in this life. Which if I trust the promise, does not depend on me or other people and our actions. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.
I was reading “The Cloister Walk” by Kathleen Norris and she talks about the Benedictine Rule and how it has helped her regain sanity surround time.
Her thinking is powerful to me as well. Her friend said to her: “You never really finish anything in life, and while that’s humbling, and frustrating, it’s all right. The Benedictines, more than any other people I know, insist there is time in each day for prayer, for work, for study, and for play.”
I want to be freed from thinking I’ll actually get everything done, and instead work some, pray some, study some and play some – every day! And then see how far that gets me. For sure it will get me there happier and more connected to God.
Which is better than saying I completed all these tasks in my life! I recall Nicky Gumbel from the Alpha course joking about God asking someone what they did in their life and they said to God: “I made masses of money. Masses and masses.” And God says, “Great, you can use that when we play Monopoly.” Nicky then says, “It’s pathetic, really.” Amen.
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