Do not be afraid
“Joseph, being a righteous man and un willing to expose Mary to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife …”
The Posada is a celebration of community with a rich history
There are many things that Rev. Canon Simón Bautista Betances loves about the Posa da at Christ Cathedral but most of all is the sense of community — tied closely with the delicious food.
The Cathedral community will have more than one opportunity to partake in both each evening December 16-23, from 7-9 p.m.
as parishioners commemorate Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge for Mary to give birth to the baby Jesus. On December 18, at 6 p.m., all are invited to gather at the Grand Posada & Sancocho Supper at the Cathedral.
“We went all out last year and focused a
POSADA, page 6
Christmas services
Advent Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 4
5 p.m. In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
The Longest Night, Wednesday, December 21
5:00 p.m. Sign up in advance to attend online via Zoom
6:00 p.m. In-Person
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24
4 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo, (Pageant)
6 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in Spanish, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
8 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
11 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
1 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in Spanish, In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
Joseph had a plan about how to deal with a difficult situation. It was a good and compas sionate plan, like Joseph himself. But then he had a dream in which it seemed (because noth ing is really certain in dreams) that an angel was telling him he should abandon his plan and take a much riskier path. “Do not be afraid,” the angel tells Joseph.
I think I would probably wake up from such a dream and say to myself, “Boy, I just had a nightmare,” and then I would get on with my original plans, my plans that I know are good and compassionate. I am one of those who can tend to trust his own carefully crafted plans more than I tend to trust my sketchy, half-re membered dreams.
Parker Palmer once said, “I finally had to stop asking myself what I was going to make of my life, so that I could ask what my life was trying to make of me.” That resonates. I just wish I could do the same more often.
We don’t know much at all about Jo seph. One reason we don’t know much about him is that he was probably a quiet and spiritually sensitive man. Such folks rarely make headlines or history. Today, we live in a noisy and busy world that rewards quick decisions, concrete plans, and clever strategies. Quiet and spiritual ly sensitive people like Joseph are regard ed with benign neglect — nice people to
Our Cathedral Family
We celebrate with
E the newly baptized: Annika Eloise Baze, Beatrice Vivienne Baze, Leon Francis Landry, Portia Margaux Landry, Victoria Love Russell, and Cecilia Blake Schulte
We extend heartfelt sympathy
E to the family of member Roy L. Nolen who passed away on October 17, 2022. Roy is spouse to member Evelyn Nolen
E to the family of Faye Amette Buckley who passed away on October 4, 2022. Faye is mother to member Michelle Kutch.
E to the family of Bill Ruch who passed away on October 30, 2022. Bill is father to member Tim Ruch
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar
E on Sunday, November 6, were given to the glory of God in loving memory of her brother, Joe Head and their parents, Jane and Jack Head and Mary Louise and Robert Thurmond by Julie and Bob Thurmond
E on Sunday, November 13, were given to the glory of God in loving memory of Pete Etheridge by his wife, Nancy Etheridge; their children Hailey and Brent Bechtol and Kim and Cooper Etheridge; and their grandchildren Pete, Mac, and Cal Bechtol and Emerson and Sloan Etheridge
E on Sunday, November 27, were given to the glory of God in loving memory and thanksgiving for the generosity of Dolly Bille by the Altar Guild.
E on Sunday, December 4, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Linda Anne Baldwin and Dorothy Geiselman Baldwin by the family of Robert B. Baldwin III
E on Sunday, December 18, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Robert C. and Madie M. Richter by Bob Richter Jr.
E on Sunday, December 18, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Cherry Gulledge by her children and grandchildren.
Come to the Table: Celebrating The Beacon’s 15 years of ministry
This year’s Come to the Table will be a celebration of our 15-year anni versary and those who make this work possible as we honor our past and plan for our future. The event is set to take place at The Beacon on Thurs day, December 8, 2022, starting with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by a four-course dinner.
The doors to the John S. Dunn Outreach Center opened on January 6, 2007, welcoming approximately 100 individuals experiencing homeless ness with a homemade meal, hot shower, and opportunity to wash their clothes. Soon, more than 500 individuals were being served daily, amplify ing Christ Church Cathedral’s hundred-year tradition of meeting the needs of indigent Houstonians. As we reflect on our beginnings, we are mindful that this effort took an enormous amount of planning and support by many individuals. In particular, those who organized committees to listen and learn about the needs of the homeless community, engineered operations within our facility and gave their time and treasure made the vision for The
The Longest Night service, December 21
CLAIRE SOARD, MINISTER OF PASTORAL CAREThe ache of Advent draws near again. This season whispers, “Get ready … He’s coming.” Past and future, we wait for Jesus. We join in the anticipation of God drawing near, com ing into our broken, beautiful world as a tiny human. We join the great cloud of witnesses waiting for that future day when God will come again to make things right in ways we can’t quite imagine.
And for those carrying grief into this sea son, anticipation can feel risky and sad and overwhelming. What will Jesus bring into my world, into my present, when my present is so very hard?
The heartaches are numerous. Relationships and expectations that are fractured. Chronic pain and mental illnesses that don’t get better.
Finances that don’t add up. Loved ones slip ping away in mind or body. The people who have died who have left a hole in our lives.
We return to the smells and sounds and laughter and food that the holidays bring, but grief means these landmarks hold a new pain, or maybe an old one.
I invite you to make space for the holy work of grieving what must be grieved. To give yourself the grace to put new boundaries on your calendar or your energy or your smiles.
I invite you to look at each per son gathering in ugly sweaters and ask where their grief is peeking through. What space might we offer each other? Could
we make room for tears or memories? Could we ask ourselves and our kids and our parents the questions that leave room for curiosity and open-heartedness instead of rigid expectations or false cheer?
And the true, good news of great joy is that Jesus is faith ful to be right there in the joy and sorrow. God with us.
The Longest Night Service on December 21 is a tender service that holds space for the hard. I hope you will join us at 5 p.m. on Zoom or at 6 p.m. in person in the Cathedral.
Music will be performed by Sally Keller, the cellist from The Well. The 6 p.m. service includes Eucharist.
Search Committee begins work
MEREDITH L. CANADAThank you for your continued prayers for the members of the Search Committee as we begin the important task of identifying our new dean. As was reported last month, since the Search Committee was commissioned, we have com pleted the required Diocesan STAR training program given by Kellaura Johnson, Diocesan Transition Minister. The STAR program was developed from a secular human resources in terview training program adapted to meet the needs of a congregation searching for a new rector (or dean).
This training is based on the premise that fu ture performance can be predicted by past behav ior. Questions to ask during the interview have been formulated based on STAR — situation, task, action, and result. An example of this would be: “Tell us something you have accomplished in your career about which you are most proud.
Reflections on Cathedral Parish Retreat
ANN AND DAVID MILLERDavid and I came to the Cathedral in 2003 but until last year had never at tended the Cathedral Parish Retreat at Camp Allen. All we can say now after finally attending, is wow, what a lot of fun and wonderful times we missed out on by not going.
Specifically, how did you accomplish it? What has been the result of this work?”
The questions are designed to cover most as pects of a dean’s work, and align with the quali ties desired in our prospective dean as reflected in our Parish Profile. Now that the Parish Pro file has been completed and approved by our Vestry, our Search Committee’s primary focus is on developing a core set of questions that will be asked of each of those qualified candidates who are identified to be interviewed.
We appreciate your understanding and pa tience as we go through this process, and ask for your continued prayers for the Search Committee, and for the Holy Spirit to guide us in our work to successfully accomplish the task of finding our next dean.
Follow the latest information and up dates at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/ searchcommittee
Parish Profile available online
As part of the search for our next dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Vestry has been busy working to prepare a parish profile since July 2022. The profile highlights the overall identity of the church, its ministries, its people, and its context; essentially defining who and what the Cathedral is.
The beauty and serenity of Camp Al len are immediate upon arrival. Those of us who live in the city can hardly be lieve how quiet and peaceful the sur roundings are.
PARISH RETREAT
Friday–Sunday, January 13–15
We enjoyed all the activities planned. A nature hike, canoeing, a beautiful candle-lit prayer path, s’mores around a campfire and of course music. If solitude is your fave, then Camp Allen is perfect for you too. Rocking chairs and porch sitting is encouraged. There truly was something for everyone to enjoy, but for us, more than any of these fun experiences was the time to sit and talk with others. Interesting stories and conversa tions were shared between Cathedral friends, both old and new. Now, people we only knew in passing at church, we had the time to get to know much better and experience God’s love in our midst. It is now an event we look forward to, and we hope any of you who are thinking about go ing will choose to do just that! It is a wonderful time.
David and I look forward to meeting more Cathedral friends and enjoying the beauty of God’s creations at Camp Allen this coming year. Hope to see you there!
The retreat takes place Jan. 13-15. Reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and renew your relationship with God. For more information and to register, visit: www.christchurchcathedral. org/parishretreat
The process to build this document involved extensive work designing and collecting surveys to receive feed back from parishioners in September and October, hosting listening ses sions for parishioners to hear results and offer additional comments, and holding intentional meetings among Vestry members, wardens, clergy, and other parish leaders.
The Diocese required this process to begin before a search committee could be selected and convened. The profile had to be finished and made publicly available prior to the com mittee’s work toward finding and evaluating candidates for our next dean could commence.
The Vestry worked diligently to en sure all had access and opportunity to be involved throughout this pro cess, and now that this work is com pleted the profile is available online at www.christchurchcathedral.org/ parishprofile
Boo Bash, Formation Hour, Cathedral Treble Choir, and more
IN PICTURES
Above:
Right:
Why we sing
Thistles and Shamrocks — Music from Ireland and Scotland
The Cabaret is an evening full of fabulous entertainment, cocktails, din ner, silent auction and singing by your choir with the money raised going to our travel scholarship fund. In July 2023 the Cathedral Choir will be taking our song and voices to Dublin to sing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, then to Belfast at St. Anne’s Cathedral and finally, to Edin burgh at St. Mary’s Cathedral. That we’ve been invited to sing in these historic spaces is a testament to the music you hear every Sunday. But why do we, you and I, as people, sing? We sing in the shower, we sing in the car, and if we’re not too shy, we sing at church. We have so much music coming at us in so many formats these days that we can forget why we sing in the first place.
CHOIR CABARET
7 p.m., Saturday, January 21
accompanies every important passage in human lifebirth, marriage, sickness, death, initiation rites such as baptisms and coming of age rites such as confirmation. The Old and New Testaments are rich with song. The Book of Psalms is basically an anthology of hymns that we sing to this day. Jesus sang a hymn, probably a psalm, with the disciples at the end of the Last Sup per. Our public ritual of liturgy forms the basis of establishing a relationship with God. Through liturgy and song we participate in the sacred.
We sing because singing is a powerful tool. Early cultures viewed music as intrinsically connected with nature and may have believed it influenced the natu ral world directly through magic, science or religion. Pythagoras encouraged his students to sing every day to overcome fear, anger, worry and sorrow. In his uni versity, it was customary for the Pythagoreans to open and close each day with songs to clear the mind and inspire it to the activities of the coming day. Today mu sic therapists use singing to ease many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as walking, speech and mood changes.
To bring it closer to home, as a church choir, singing
But going even deeper, how old is song? Not just music but human singing? Music can be dated to Pa leolithic times based on early instruments, like flutes. However singing probably emerged far before this, though it is essentially impossible to confirm some thing this ephemeral. Based on human remains, some anthropologists hypothesize that human singing could be over 530,000 years old. Singing may even be older than the impulse to speak; it is rooted in our evolution. So why do we sing? We sing because we were literally born to. Singing is part of our essence and our gift from God. And, our gift back to Him as well.
lot of effort on letting people know about the Grand Posada,” said Canon Bautista. “This year we are going full force too and want the congregation to also join us walking house to house in the neighborhoods. It is a community event, and it is a way to build the kind of rela tionships that community is all about.”
Maria Flores has been a member of Christ Cathedral for 15 years and remembers when the Posada was just one event at the Cathedral. She has seen the event grow over the years to include the neighborhood celebrations and has enjoyed participating and helping with the organization and the service.
“It is very special for me because I am from Mexico and I remember when I was little and the Posada sometimes hap pened in my house,” Flores said. “Now I go with my friends.”
Maria Pilar Aguinaga, a Cathedral member since 2006, is another Posada organizer. She says that the families participate out of genu ine enjoyment of the celebration.
“It’s not obligatory,” she said. “The families who host and make food want to do it for the adults, the young people, and the children. Every house is different.”
The Mexican tradition of the Posada was the inspiration for the Latino congregation at Christ Church to start the tradition in Houston. Canon Bautista said that the people who help bring the events to fruition think of themselves as more than volunteers.
“Everybody feels a part of creating
Cathedral Youth chosen for planning team
We are proud to share that members of your Ca thedral family have been selected for the 2023 Epis copal Youth Event Na tional Planning Team!
something special when it comes to the Posa da,” said Canon Bautista.
Last year’s dinner and Grand Posada did require a lot of planning and effort from the congregation, but it was well worth it. John McLaughlin, the director of the non-profit Education Across Borders which benefits those in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, was in attendance with his bilingual book The Good Stranger’s Sancocho Surprise. This up date of the Good Samaritan story was a per fect accompaniment to the Dominican San cocho stew which will be on the menu again this year.
“Everybody
“We started involving the other councils and committees of the Cathedral to help put it together and make the Grand Posada bigger, both in terms of numbers and involvement,” Canon Bautista said.
This year Jasminne Mendez, DominicanAmerican poet, author and playwright will also be on hand to share her work. Mendez is a child of immigrants and someone who lives with a chronic disease. Cathedral bookstore manager Lucy Chambers said her work has been compared to Ntozake Shange’s in its abil ity “to give vivid voices of those who have been silenced and forgotten.”
The seven other neighborhood posadas are organized by geographical area with each
participating family deciding what foods to provide in order to feed up to 150 attendees. A pinata at one of the houses and candies for the children is a must. In recent years, a shortened version of the Eucharist was added.
“For us, it is like a devotion because we are waiting for the baby Jesus to be born,” Agui naga said. “It helps you remember how the Virgin Maria and Jose walked into that night and didn’t know if they would find a place for the baby to be born. It is also a way for me to show respect for my ancestors. They did that same devotion. We reaffirm friendship with other people when we have our dinner, and we bring people we didn’t know so they can en joy themselves with us and we pray. It is a sharing in the cold night.”
Flores has been impressed with the be havior of the next generation.
“The children pay attention to the ser vice too,” she said. “They are very quiet and they respect it.”
Canon Bautista says he is thrilled to be able to get out into the neighborhoods and hopes that even more people from both the Span ish and English-speaking congregations will participate.
“It is something that is so meaningful to so many people,” he said. “I am fully conscious that when we are doing this, going in the streets, singing the typical songs that we sing for Posada, we are joining many voices from the past, but also joining a reality that is still true. There are many people out there who don’t have a roof over their heads.”
THE BEACON, from page 2
Beacon a reality. These Faithful Founders remain loyal to our mission to this day and have inspired so many others to join them. In its 15-year history, The Beacon has evolved, honing its services, and creating efficiencies with separate non-profits merging into one. Our role within the community-wide homeless response system remains vital and our reputation as a dependable resource for individuals in need is paramount. This year’s Come to the Table will be a celebration of our 15-year anniversary and those who make this work possible as we honor our past and plan for our future.
Youth member and Youth Ministry Council representa tive Elijah Portillo is an EYE23 Planning Team Member, and Minister for Youth Marcia Quintanilla was selected as an Adult Mentor!
EYE is The Episcopal Church’s largest international youth gathering. It is unique in the life of the church in that it is planned by youth for their peers. The Planning Team has al ready begun working for EYE23 which takes place in July 2023.
This year’s Chef Committee: Mark Holley of Davis Street at Hermann Park, Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi of Kata Robata Sushi + Grill, Ryan Lachaine of Riel, Ara Malekian of Harlem Road Texas BBQ, Mike Puccio of The Beacon, Luis Roger of BCN and MAD, Chris Shepherd, Claire Smith of Alice Blue, Jeff Weinstock and Max Torres of Cake & Bacon.
Faithful Founders (acting as event chairs) are: Linda and Richard Bischoff, Frances and Norman Kittrell, Wick and Rob Rowland, Judy and Charles Tate, and Carol and Andy Vickery. Learn more at www.beaconhomeless.org
feels a part of creating something special when it comes to the Posada,” said Canon Bautista.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Visit christchurchcathedral.org/events or call 713-222-2593 to learn more about these and other events at the Cathedral.
Registration recommended Registration required Registration closed Childcare available (3 mo. to 12 yrs.)
DECEMBER
DEC.2 FRI
Bridge Night
6 :30 p.m., McGehee Conference Room.
DEC 2-4
Youth
Fall Retreat
FRI-SUN
Join us for a unique retreat in Galveston that gives 6-12th grade youth a time to escape the chaos of life and reconnect with God.
DEC 3 SAT
Latino Ministry Quiet Day
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cathedral
DEC 4 SUN
Newcomer Lunch and Learn 12:15 p.m., to attend RSVP: jmerullo@ christchurchcathedral.org
St. Theresa’s Short Story Book Group 2 p.m., various locations. Contact Valerie Meisel at vhmtexas@gmail.com. Second Thursday of the month.
DEC 10 SAT
Threads of Comfort and Joy 10 a.m., Zoom (2nd Saturday of the month)
Costa Rica Mission Trip 2023
The Costa Rica Mission Trip is open to adults, high schoolers, and 8th grad ers currently in the confirmation class. The deadline to apply is December 11.If you missed the info session and are interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Mission Trip, contact Mar cia with any questions at mquintanilla@ christchurchcathedral.org.
DEC 12 MON
COHI, Circle of Care 6 p.m., Zoom
DEC. 15 THU
Amazing Women of Faith 6:30–7:30 p.m., The Pearl. A monthly gathering of women, where the stories and lives of Amazing Women are shared and discussed. These women of faith are from all over the world and from various eras of Christianity. Third Thursday of the month.
DEC 17 SAT
Christmas Camp
11 a.m., Jones 205-208. Come get all costumed up and run through our annual Christmas Eve Pageant. There is room at the manger for you!
DEC 18 SUN
Grand Posada Partamos el Pan: with poet Jasminne Mendez 6 p.m., Reynolds Hall.
DEC 21 WED
The Longest Night
5 p.m., Zoom; 6 p.m., Cathedral.
WEEKLY
SUNDAYS
Children’s Sunday School
10–11 a.m., Jones 201–208. Children’s Sunday School (3 years – 5th grade) will gather in Golding Chapel for a time of music, story, and prayer. We will then walk together to the Jones building. Come check out all the new things going on in Children’s Ministry!
SUNDAYS
Formation Hour
10 a.m., Reynolds Hall
• Dec. 4, John Caulfield
• Dec. 11 Invitation to Posadas
• Dec. 18, A Charlie Brown Christmas
Cathedral Tours
DEC. 4
Advent Lessons and Carols
5 p.m. The Cathedral. The Cathedral Choir ushers in Advent with its annual service of Advent Lessons and Carols. Following a pattern established over 100 years ago at Kings College, Cam bridge, the service will offer Advent readings followed by carols of the season. Readers will include leaders throughout the parish. This is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year and a perfect way to intro duce your friends and family to the Cathedral. Start your Advent with this beautiful service.
DEC. 7 WED
Cathedral Book Club
6:30 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, by David McCulloch.
DEC 8 THU
Alzheimer & Dementia Support Group
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Zoom. Second Thursday of the month.
DEC. 16 FRI
Youth Posada
Las
Posadas
DEC. 16–23
Posadas
7–9 p.m. Each evening the Latino congregation will be getting together to commemorate the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Naza reth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to baby Jesus. Contact Sylvia Garcia for information at sgarcia@c hristchurchcathedral.org
DEC 24 SAT
Christmas Eve
4 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, InPerson, Facebook/Vimeo (Includes Christmas Pageant), childcare available.
6 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (in Spanish) In-Person, Facebook/ Vimeo, childcare available.
8 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, InPerson, Facebook/Vimeo (Organ Prelude at 7:30), childcare available.
11 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, InPerson, Facebook/Vimeo (Prelude at 10:30)
DEC 25 SUN
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II In-Per son, Facebook/Vimeo
1 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Pastorela (in Spanish) In-Person, Facebook/Vimeo
Tours are held every Sunday following the 11 a.m. service. They will also be held the third Sunday of each month following services at 9 a.m. and The Well.
Latino Ministry Sunday School 1–2:30 p.m., Jones 201–208.
Latino Youth Sunday School 1–2:30 p.m., The Treehouse.
MONDAYS
Centering Prayer
11:15 a.m., Mellinger Room.
TUESDAYS
Morning Bible Study
7–8 a.m., Zoom. Led by Canon Vicar Kathy Pfister.
EFM: Education for Ministry
Morning group from 9:30 a.m. to noon; eve ning group from 6:30–9 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS
Men’s Morning Bible Study
7–8 a.m., Zoom, Offsite.
Women’s Morning Bible Study 9:30–11 a.m., Hybrid: Zoom, Jeffers, Led by Flo Ray.
Cathedral Tours
Tours available following Noonday Prayer.
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Houston, Texas
PERMIT No. 6404 1117 Texas Avenue Houston, Texas 77002-3183
Did you know you can read The Bulletin on our website? If you’d like to go “online-only,” contact Ramona Sikes at rsikes@christchurchcathedral.org or call her at 713-217-1347.
Good gifts, timeless tomes, and seasonal surprises
Please take a moment and visit www.christchurchcathedral.org/adventnewslet ter to discover our recommendations for the book lovers on your list. When you come by the Cathedral Bookstore during Advent, you’ll find these titles and many more, as well as a variety of Christmas cards, 2023 calendars, nativities from around the world, lovely candles, charming felt creatures, and other fun seasonal surprises.
If you’re looking for something contemplative, we have beautifully bound edi tions of the Book of Common Prayer, Anglican prayer beads, suggested reads from Interim Dean The Very Reverend Gary Jones, and books every Episcopalian should have on hand. We’re here to help you find something meaningful for everyone on your list and wrap it up with a bow so you can have a more peaceful Advent—and even find a quiet moment or two for your own reading and relaxing!
The Cathedral Bookstore is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sundays 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Bookstore will close for Christmas on Thursday, December 22 at 2 p.m. and reopen on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
For more information, contact Lucy Chambers, Bookstore Manager: 713-222-0286 or bookstore@christchurchcathedral.org. Wishing you all the joy of the season!
The Cathedral Bookstore
SING, from page 5
So come hear us sing! Come to see and hear us in a completely different setting at Choir Cabaret! Re serve your spot and get more information at: www. christchurchcathedral.org/cabaret Contact Wick Rowland with questions at wickr@mac.com
ADVENT, from cover
have around sometimes, but not people you would want making important decisions in a vestry meeting or a board room. They’re too impractical; they don’t realize the “real-life” consequences of their sugges tions — everyone can see that.
And so the world becomes more practical and less spiritual, made more in the image of man than in the image of God. There are consequences to this, but only people like Joseph are likely to notice.
This Advent, I am pondering again the difference between my relentless drive to make something of my life and the riskier question of what my life might be wanting to make of me. I am also thanking God for the quiet and spiritually attentive people among us. I am asking God to help me see the way Joseph saw — that God is very often calling us to put our trust in sketchy, half-remembered dreams, rather than the brilliant plans of human beings. And decid ing to take the riskier way forward, in faith, can make all the difference.