DNGILB: Trust me, I'm a doctor.

So as a response to feeling sad last Christmas, in part for receiving a bunch of "stuff" I didn't need or want, when other less fortunate go without, I thought I should give gifts to the homeless. Before Christmastime, Vanessa and I bought some Arby's gift cards and went to downtown Tulsa to hand them out to people who looked homeless. We hit up three or four people. Introduced ourselves, explained our purpose being Christ's love and granted them the gift card. All were appreciative, one guy even recited all of the beatitudes by memory! We prayed with most of the people. It was good. So when Christmas came around we had six gift bags full of stuff... stalking cap, wool socks, blanket, snacks and treats. One poor fellow hit us up prior to Christmas day, but he seemed like a good person to share God's love with. He seemed very appreciative, I prayed with him and gave him a hug. He said he wanted to get food for his pregnant wife... they had just relocat

So, dear readers... or more likely, "reader" in the singular, Last Christmas I wrote a blog about "why I feel sad at Christmas"... (please reference it if this is news to you). So, this Christmas... "How'd things go?" you ask. Well, it seems that this year I had more to be sad about, but ended up feeling "less sad" than the year previous. What did I have more to be sad about? There were family relational strains, father in the hospital, my wife having health problems even on Christmas eve. I had plenty to be sad about. But there was less gift exchanging to require "faking a smile". There was a little less gluttony. I gave presents to the homeless (this topic needs a blog of its own). There were less expectations, less responsibility... more expectancy, more freedom, more closeness with my wife. Also, we experienced an oasis of acceptance, less expectations, true love and warmth... all during a visit with a family to which

There are times when you choose to believe something that would normally be considered absolutely irrational. It doesn't mean that it is actually irrational, but it surely is not rational. Perhaps there is suprarationality : reason beyond the normal definitions of fact or data-based logic; something that only makes sense if you can see a bigger picture of reality. Maybe that is where faith fits in. -William P. Young (from "the Shack")