Saturday, December 24, 2011

Stable Few

So my Friday outing with my friends was GREAT! There must have been 12 of us K-9’s there. I wish I could show you pictures but my MOM didn’t take any.  Oh sure she brought her camera, but as usual she was so caught up in the walk, and watching me and the other dogs she forgot to take pictures.  The best part was my gal pal Belle came with me.  And Bert was right, I for sure have to keep an eye, both eyes, on Murphy.  He sure liked her.  I’m watching you Murphy!  MOM did take one picture. 

When we dropped Belle off at her house we went home and this is how I spent the rest of the day and night.  I was so tired MOM had to help me on the couch.  I’m so tired I don’t even care that I have that ridiculous hat on and I’m cuddling the snowman pillow.


I guess it’s OK MOM didn’t take any pictures cuz I want to ask you a question on this Christmas Eve.
Do you ever wonder what you would have heard had you been there that night, that first Christmas night. It is a question that I think about each year. Would I have heard the choirs of angels singing or simply the sounds of barnyard animals shifting around. Would I have seen the star in the sky that night or simply two poor and very frightened kids. Would I have understood the hushed silence of the divine presence, or simply the chill of a cold east wind. Would I have understood the message of Emmanuel, God with us, or would the cosmic implications of that evening have passed me by?
It’s quite possible that two different people could have heard and seen two entirely different scenes. All of life is this way. God never presents himself in a manner in which we are forced to believe. We are always left with an option, that’s God's way. One can say "It’s a miracle", while another says "its coincidence."
You see, what we see and what we hear in life depends not upon the events but rather who we are as people. It's not what is out there but what is inside of us.
You may say, “had I been there at Bethlehem that night I would have seen. I would have understood.” Would you? There is one way of knowing, ask yourself what you saw this Christmas Season. When you watched the 6:00 o’clock news did you see chaos and strife, or did you see sheep without a Shepherd? When you went out to do your shopping did you see only hordes of people in the stores or did you notice the worried expressions on some of their faces? Worried because they are facing this Christmas without employment and they don't know how they are going to make ends meet.

And ask yourself what you heard this Christmas? Did you hear only the blasts of music and carols, or did you hear the silent sighs of the lonely or those who are in pain, who may be dreading Christmas because it accentuates their loneliness or their difficulties? And in the midst of the sounds of honking horns and people arguing over parking places, did you hear the faint sound of laughter that will be coming from a shelter because you furnished toys for the children there?
You see, so often what we see and what we hear is not dependent upon the event but upon ourselves. If you did in fact hear the cry from the lonely, the laughter of children in need, if you saw the sheep without a shepherd, then you might just have seen the events that took place in Bethlehem that night.
So we need to ask ourselves, “Am I a part of the Inn crowd, or the stable few?”
Merry Christmas and Blessings my friends,
Goose

17 comments:

  1. I am glad that you had great time with your friends!!!

    Loved your post and I had goose bumps reading it! I think if I were there, what I would have saw and heard would have been totally different then what others would have. God presents himself to us in unique ways!! Again, loved the post and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

    ~Higgins

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  2. Absolutely awesome message, Goose. Beautifully written and profound. We watched the movie The Nativity last night and a couple of weeks ago were blessed to witness a live nativity a church did. In all the hustle and bustle we stop constantly to remember that it is JESUS and HIM only that we celebrate in this season. Our theme as a family this year has been JOY and I hope we have spread it well.

    Merry Christmas!!

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  3. Happy Christmas Eve Goose. Firstly, I hope you've recovered from your romp with your friends-you must have cause this is a powerful message. My first thoughts immediately were yes, I would have heard but then you put applications on it and that is where I fall short. Loved having to stop and think and ponder. Blessings to you and your mom this holy Christmas. May you continue to touch many lives.
    Lots of love, Noreen & Reggie

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  4. Gosh, that is the cutest picture ever!! Look at your big paws! Merry Christmas!

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  5. Goose, you always make my Vickie and I stop and think and ponder. What a wonderful post. That is why "Gospel of Goose" is so refreshing.

    My Vickie got a lot of pictures from the walk you guys took without me, and then the play we had when I finally got there.

    She will post them sometime today as soon as she finishes her chores.

    Merry Christmas my friend.

    Love ya
    Bert

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  6. Merry Christmas Goose to you and your family.
    What a wonderful Christmas post, thank you so much for sharing that.

    God Bless

    Sheila, Bob
    Hamish & Sophie

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  7. Loved your beautiful message. This time of year always brings such depth of emotion from many different places within ourselves.

    Also, please say hello to Belle for me. I'm still thinking about her . . .

    Love,
    Murphy

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  8. We love your inspirational posts, Goose - really makes us take pause and ponder.

    Happy and Blessed Christmas to you from all of us.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, Lightning, and Mom

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  9. Pawed perfection, Goose~

    I like to think I am part of the stable few...

    Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday Jesus!

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  10. That's a beautiful way of looking at things. Thank you for making us stop and think a lot, Goose!
    I'm sure glad you got to have fun with your friends! You look so relaxed in that picture - and mighty cute in the hat!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  11. Pawsome post Goose. If me was there, me would have been in the manger with Baby Jesus keeping him warm. Me loves to cuddle! Me thinks he would have been a special baby. As special as every new baby. Mommy is a Christmas Baby and she always feels blessed.
    Wes patiently waiting for Santa Paws! Every year he comes on the fire truck and stops at every house in our village! Me is going to put up the pictures of him at my house as soon as he comes!
    Me is getting furry excited and Kozmo is bouncing off the walls!
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  12. dear Goose! What a wonderful picture!You look great! - I wish you and your family a merry christmas and I'm very proud to know such a marvelous friend! Sealed with a kiss Charlotte

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  13. hey Goose,

    What a beautiful post! You are so wise! And what a sweet picture of you! Dreaming of sugarplums dancing in your head? :->

    Wishing you and your family and loved ones a very Merry Christmas! And may your Christmas Day be filled with much love, happiness, and cheer! We are grateful for your friendship and look forward to following your adventures in the new year!

    Love, Peace, and Blessings,

    Suka and K

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  14. Goose,

    You are such a wise dog. "You see, what we see and what we hear in life depends not upon the events but rather who we are as people. It's not what is out there but what is inside of us."

    You are so right. I need to remember that every single day.

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  15. We saw the photos of the outing on Bert's blog, looks like that was a GREAT time. You all have so much fun! I love that photo of you, adorable. :)

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  16. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality. useful job for bringing something new to the internet!

    Newcool
    Carefever

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