The early Fall seems to me now to have been a lifetime ago when John Dwyer asked if I would give a homily at one of these beautiful Taize` services.  And I remember saying with a bit of an attitude, "It will have to be in December, because life right now is too hectic."  These are famous last words.

I am actually honored to be standing in this A-M-B-O as John informed me this morning.  I guess Episcopalians do it in the ambo!  Early on I had asked John if he would send me the reading for tonight so that I might reflect on it as I prepare to speak to you.  I recall taking just a smidge of umbrage at his note to me that read something along the lines of, "these are just for your edification.  You should not feel the need to reflect on them," and went on to say that I should just focus on something about St. Thomas' blah blah blah.  As if 38 years of sitting in the pews of one Episcopal Church after another might not be experience enough to give me some perspective or something thoughtful in response to the Gospel.

I have spent the better part of the past few weeks trying to think of something meaningful and enlightened but it has eluded me and I found myself saying thank God I don't have to do this every week.  So John you win.  ;o)

This has not for me been the December that I had hoped it would be.  Usually this month is a little quieter and not as hectic at work.  This year has been the exception.  I think it started going downhill just before Thanksgiving when I landed on jury duty and sent what was probably a very guilty individual to jail again just days before the holiday.  It didn't help that we shared the same last name.  But for the grace of God go I.

For those of you who do not know me, my day job is working for the Episcopal Church.  I work in the Office of Government Relations for the Church.  For those of you who work on the hill or whose jobs revolve around Congress I know you join me in lamenting the loss of a November recess and December too.  The past few weeks have been hurried, hectic and hasty on all fronts.  And I am really tired.

It is not made any better knowing that I leave for my family home in Georgia in a few short days.  And for our 10th Christmas, my partner Andy will leave for his family home in Arkansas.  We have never spent a Christmas together and I have never had the joy of being able to worship here in St. Thomas' Parish on Christmas Eve-which is for me a sacred event.