The War is Over--Military Leaves Iraq

Iraq is done. Nine years later we can claim success and come home.

Why aren't the church bells pealing?

Why aren't we sponsoring parades and clamoring in streets? Today marked the handover of the last US base in Iraq to the Iraqi people.

At the conclusion of a war we should be celebrating peace and a new beginning. But, in this case, we are still at war in other places--this is but one success in a chain of wars and operations.

It has been a good year though--Usama Bin Laden has found his way off the planet to his eternal reward and the war in Iraq has concluded.

It is Christmas and although many of our military are deployed around the world continuing the fight against terrorism and the forces of darkness, the good news this holiday season is that we have left Iraq--just as was promised so long ago. Whether Iraq is viable as a country is now in the hands of the Iraqis.

Next up? Afghanistan! Let's win and come home.

I like to think--that for all of the families of service men and women returning home for the holidays, that this is a great Christmas gift.

So let the church bells chime and let us celebrate a new beginning--at least for today.

Christmas Pets--Caution

I see them everywhere, pets being offered a Christmas gifts.

Giving a pet for Christmas is dangerous because unlike other gifts, pets require constant work. Yes, they provide companionship--and I admit, having been the recipient of a Christmas puppy three years ago, they can be among the best gifts given and received during the holidays.

But the downside is that they reqquire constant work and attention. In the case of puppies, there is requisite training and multiple times per day walks to allow the pupppy to take care of business.

I remember when Makayla was still being trained, I drove home at lunch every day to let her out and give her some mid-day companionship. I was lucky to live close enough to where I work to be able to do that.

Even now that she is a wonderfully trained dog, Chris and I still consider Makayla's needs at the end of the day before heading off to shop or play racquetball. I stop by the house most evenings to let her out and spend a few minutes with her before rushing off to play racquetball. And when we are out on successive evenings, I feel very guilty about leaving her alone for so many hours.

And so, my caution is this--consider the entire situation when considering a pet as a Christmas gift. Pets are a longterm investment, and while the return can be worth much more than the effort, for some people there just is not enough time in life for a pet.

Cuddly and small on Christmas morning grows quickly into a demanding task--and if not done properly, the pet will be the ultimate loser.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Not Everyone Watches Football on Sunday Afternoon

On Sunday afternoon, when the guys are watching the NFL on TV and sipping on soft drinks and munching on popcorn, not everyone in the house is doing the same thing.

This past weekend, as Mike and I were watching the Redskins almost defeat the Patriots, and the women were out shopping, one guy in the house was marching to the beat of his own drummer.

Jax was in bed faking sleeping upstairs, but I found Ethan curled up on the sofa with an iPad amusing himself, despite the activity occurring elsewhere in the house.

It was kind of nice to see Ethan just hanging out doing his own thing in the quiet of the house.

He was oblivious to the struggle we were watching on the TV in the next room. And that was good because the outcome was not good for the home team.

Everyone needs some alone time.

Even E. Way to go. We all need to take note!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Songs

You have heard them, I am sure.

The Christmas songs on the radio, ugh!

I am so burned out on Christmas songs already I think that if I hear "I'll be home for Christmas" one more time I will gnaw through my steering wheel.

Why am I burned out on Christmas already? I am not sure, but the songs seem the same. Even Nat King Cole's "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" is making my gag reflex go off.  And I used to love that song.  Really!

Maybe it is where we are headed.

The songs sound tired to me. I've heard them and they have not grown. I have grown! Christmas is different to me now than when I was a child, but the songs are still the same.  And, they are tired.

I think it is because the songs keep Christmas fixed in time, and the spirit of Christmas is alive and vibrant. Every year is new and every Christmas is a new beginning. The old tired songs just do not do it justice. The secular songs just cannot change either--I mean, how many times can we sing about "In the meadow we can build a snowman?" Truly, how many people even can envision what that scene looks like today? What is a meadow?

Christmas is alive. It changes every year as we grow deeper into the meaning of the season.

This year, I have a friend who has helped me see that the sappy songs of Christmas do it a disservice because the baby born in the back roads of the Roman Empire has changed everything.

We do Him and the season a disservice by not growing deeper into the true meaning of the season, the meaning that God came down on Christmas to save the world--and was rejected by many of the people He came to save.

Sadly. I have grown tired of the "O Holy Night" sentiment that traps Christmas. I want a more upbeat sound to revive my soul and remind me of the grace, the peace, and the hope that the season is all about.

I went to a performance of "The Messiah" by Handel the other night and was reminded of the mission that that baby was on--the baby who grew into a boy and then into a man, and then was killed because the people of the time were blind to His perfection.

He has called me friend and He has called me brother.

God came down on Christmas day.  No religion in the world believes that their God ever came to walk with them. And to understand the crush of everyday life.

That is why Christianity is not a religion, but rather a life style.

Today, why not thank God for the gift of Christmas, His son?







 

Monday Musings - December 12, 2011

1. I think I am getting burned out on Christmas music already. If I hear "I'll be Home for Christmas" one more time, I may run away.

2. It is getting colder out every morning, I guess winter is getting closer. It is 20 degrees outside this morning.

3. Less than two weeks to go until the big day.

4. The Presidential primaries are beginning to get interesting. I wonder who will be elected.

5. Traveling during the holiday season can get very interesting. TSA wants to keep us guessing about what nonsense item they will focus on next before allowing us to get to our gates. Important safety tip: don't wear backbrace, it may be confused with a money belt, which we all know are illegal. Interesting article about two senior citizens who had a very bad experience.

6. I can tell the NFL season is almost over, my Fantasy Football league playoffs begin next week and my team is stumbing in after losing 3 of the past four weeks, ugh! And I am still going to be the number 3 seed.

7. Looks as if there is a problem in space. The Russians have given up on their sick Matrian probe and it looks as if it is going to come crashing back to Earth.

8. For those of you who were wondering, spring training for baseball is just over two months away. Some teams have pitchers and catchers reporting as early as February 18th.

Cold Sunday Morning

I was watching the weather person on the news this morning trying to describe how cold it was outside. I had to laugh when she said it hadn't been this cold since December 2nd.

Really? Just over a week? I was expecting something more profound, like February.

I had noticed the cold while walking Makayla. It really was cold and I probably should have worn a coat--but I hadn't. Really cold, of course, is anything below freezing. Today, my thermometer registered 21 degrees.

I did notice the white, cold, full-moon shining through the branches of the trees. I was mesmerized by the naked branches of the trees and remembered how just a few short months ago the leaves would have hidden the moon from my view.

The light the moon cast though, was sufficient for me to clean up behiind Makayla as she took care if some business. I prefer thaat to using the small flashlight on the end of her leash.

We are closing in on winter.

Cold will be prevalent everywhere--and even some snow and ice by the time spring rescues us from the grasp of the dark days.

Two weeks from today, Christmas Day, the rush of the season will culminate with a day of intense celebration. And then on to the New Year.

Despite the cold, I pray you will be warm and surrounded by love.

The dawn has broken and it is time to start the day. Make it a good day.

Weekend Respite and a Happy Ending

The pace of life has truly picked up during the past week.

I'm not sure if it is due to the Christmas season or whether things are just cruising along more quicky and it is becoming harder and harder to keep up.

I relish weekends when I can catch my breath.

I'm sitting here with the cat who came back, Riordan, in my lap after just watching the end of a sappy Hallmark movie whith a yellow dog in it. I am a sucker for dog and horse movies--so I was immediately captured when I saw the movie and even more when it was a yellow dog (Lab).

I took a few minutes out of a shaping up to be an incredibly busy Saturday two weeks before Christmas to enjoy a story and look for the happy ending. The stories always seems to have a happy ending and the movie maker's twist is to make me wonder if my desired happy ending will be the one they choose.

I know life sometimes doesn't seem to have happy endings in everything. But that doesn't keep me from trying to find the happiness and joy in things.

On the other hand, I haven't even bought Cristmas cards yet.

So I am hoping to catch my breath this weekend and prepare for another fast paced week.

And help Chris get some things done to ensure a restful Christmas. Is that possible?

Happy Holidays. Truly. Take a time out to enjoy the season and the decorations.

I hope you can find the happy ending in the season which is really devoted to happy beginnings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Phineas & Ferb

If you know who they are. Then you are definitely young enough for admittance.

Winter's First Causality

And so it has happened already. The first causality of winter. A couple of year old plant in the garden has not made it, already. Three months ago it was green and vibrant, yet today is it brown and dead.

I can hardly believe the carnage that the rainy weather is having on my gardens.

I certainly hope that springtime comes soon--despite knowing that we still have not officially entered the winter season. The last two days have been very cold, though.

Too cold.

Yet, there is more cold and foul weather ahead of us before we break into the warmth and earthy smells of the springtime.

I know of at least one pant that I will be replacing.

I guess it gives me something to look forward to--a trip to the nursery. I wonder if I should leave the dead plant there as a testament to how much I dislike winter?

Nah, I'l dig it up. It is too depressing to look at the once green plant and wonder way it died before its time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Stories

What a season!

There are stories everywhere about the season. Stories of hope and peace and love and joy abound.

Some of the stories though are hard, and the happy miracle ending that I want to see happen, isn't happening.

Even in those situations where the endings aren't what I would want to see occur, the rest of the story is written in how I respond to the endings and the new beginnings.

The spirit of Christmas is in how I respond to others in the good times and the hard times. And at Christmas, I am more forgiving, more loving, more tolerant, and I realize that life is a team sport, I do not and cannot walk this life alone.

I know people for whom this season is a season of sorrow and pain. I grieve for them. Real life is not all bows and ribbons. I dearly wish it could be. But life is like that.

The TV programs and the commercials would have me believe that spending a bit more money can overcome anything.

It isn't true.

There is real sadness and no matter how hard I can hope that there is a way to turn sadness into joy, it is not that simple. If only the worst thing that happens during the season was that I ran out of egg nog.

But life is how we respond to each other and how we affect each other. Friends support friends--no matter what.

And the joy of the season is in assuring others who are experiencing hard time and difficult situations theat they are loved and not alone, no matter what.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD