Merry Christmas, everyone!

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,

From Jesse’s lineage coming,

As men of old have sung.

It came, a floweret bright,

Amid the cold of winter

When half spent was the night

Isaiah ’twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin mother kind

To show God’s love aright,
She bore to us a Savior
When half spent was the night

The shepherds heard the story
Proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of Glory
Was born on earth this night.

To Bethlehem they sped
And in the manger they found him,
As angels heralds said.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;

True man, yet very God,
From Sin and death he saves us,
And lightens every load.

Dear Friends,

I have been silent for a week now because I have been dealing with my usual Christmas depression.

I have no family to celebrate with; I’m an only child. And I am a celibate with no grandkids to dote on.

Nevertheless, I have my Lord and my Lady.

I have the peace and satisfaction that I have poured my love into my writings and the tiny community I care for though I get little response.

I am at peace. My heart is ready to receive the special gift Jesus wants to give me this Christmas.

And I pray so very earnestly that you receive the special gift God wishes to give you.

Cleanse your heart of resentments / of preoccupations with unnecessary things.

Ask yourself what really is the meaning of life?

For me the answer is to love as best I can.

I am a flawed human being. I have serious character defects.

I have shortcomings that irritate people.

But I have a lot of love in my heart to share with whomever would like to receive.

I also have some wisdom to share that arises out of many years of suffering with the heavy cross of manic depressive disorder.

But I see it as a gift and it keeps of giving.

So, I hope you have received something nourishing and sweet in the 19 posts I have been able to create this Advent.

They are my gift to you.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

And if your Christmas is lonely like mine with no one really special to share it with,

know that you have someone here who understands and who reaches out to you from my heart to yours.

And be sure to open yourself to the holiness / the wholeness / the peace of Christmas.

It is there beneath all the craziness and hype. It is yours if you seek it and ask for it.

YouTube video: Lo, how a rose

With love,

Bob Traupman

priest / writer

Fran Wallin December 26, 2009 / 6:21 am

Dear Fr. Bob, I just want you to know that we all enjoyed your presence and company on Christmas night. I read your poetry on the Rose which was simply beautiful. Now I would like you to read this about Angels. I read it and I thought it was pretty neat. Angels come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and skin types. Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, some without. They come disguised as friends, enemies, teachers, students, lovers, and fools. They don’t take life too seriously, they travel light. They leave no forwarding address, they ask nothing in return.
Anyway thanks for making the effort and the trip to be here, your angel guided you to the right house. Merry Christmas and hope you had a good time. Fran

MelbaLewis December 25, 2009 / 4:56 am

Thank you Father Bob. Have a blessed Christmas! There are many (like us) who appreciate the help you have given to those in need. We appreciate your kindness and understanding.