The Second Day of Christmas: Leftover Coffee

An earworm for Christmas?

Good King Wenceslas looked out, 
on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
 deep and crisp and even; 
Brightly shone the moon that night, 
tho' the frost was cruel, 
When a poor man came in sight,
 gath'ring winter fuel.

Good morning, y’all. I’m drinking yesterday’s coffee. This is not exactly in keeping with the season when such beverages should be freshly made. But, I was feeling lazy when I arose this morning. Sleep has been hard to come by.

Legos festoon our dining room table now. Someone received a lego train for Christmas. It’s epic. He’s thrilled. We’ll have to encourage him to put it together. Right now, he’s playing with all the track that comes with it. This has been a train themed holiday so far. So. Many. Trains.

"Hither, page, and stand by me,
if thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
by Saint Agnes' fountain."

Today, we’ll head to Lynchburg and parts adjacent. We’ll drive the Monacan Highway for part of the journey, over hills and through valleys. I love the drive. Lovingson may be one of my favorite hamlets in Virginia. Trager Bros. Coffee is there. So good. Maybe, we’ll get a fresh cuppa when we drive through.

Today is the Second Day of Christmas. Our festivities continue apace. It is the Feast of St. Stephen. God is present in surprising ways at Christmas. Or maybe it’s that I’m just more open to God during this feast.

“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I shall see him dine,
when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament
and the bitter weather.

I am more present to my friends and family. I am more present to God. This twelve-day feast is a lesson in presence. Incarnation begs us to be fully present as God is fully present. As we find ourselves investing in one another this season, we are better able to do so throughout the year. We may find ourselves more present to the poor and oppressed as well, present to suffering, our own and the suffering of others. This is the heart of the Incarnation.

"Sire, the night is darker now,
and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how;
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page.
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod,
where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christians all, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.