Comments on: Three Christmas Stories for the Second Half of Life http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:11:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mich http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-177017 Mich Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:45:39 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-177017 Excellent food for thought. What a great idea to juxtapose these stories. Yes, it is so easy and tempting to languish in regret and resentment. Thanks for the nudge. You definitely nailed it about the common thread; the mercy of God. And the realization of it is the precise moment where the stories change. Such a subtle and yet momentous shift, eh? This Christmas/end of year time generally presents us a time to pause, reflect and assess; consciously or not, I think most of us feel it. I feel Job's humility. I hope it sticks. Excellent food for thought. What a great idea to juxtapose these stories. Yes, it is so easy and tempting to languish in regret and resentment. Thanks for the nudge. You definitely nailed it about the common thread; the mercy of God. And the realization of it is the precise moment where the stories change. Such a subtle and yet momentous shift, eh?

This Christmas/end of year time generally presents us a time to pause, reflect and assess; consciously or not, I think most of us feel it. I feel Job’s humility. I hope it sticks.

]]> By: weewilly http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-175360 weewilly Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:20:07 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-175360 Ah, yes, God's MERCY!!!And God's Mercy is so full of GRACE!! But I had to get outside myself, just as in the three stories, to begin to see such wonders. And at 82, that is still the goal, getting outside and looking back, and bring the revelation into the present...and future... May your days continue to be full of God's Presence... Ah, yes, God’s MERCY!!!And God’s Mercy is so full of GRACE!! But I had to get outside myself, just as in the three stories, to begin to see such wonders. And at 82, that is still the goal, getting outside and looking back, and bring the revelation into the present…and future… May your days continue to be full of God’s Presence…

]]> By: Pastor M http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173449 Pastor M Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:53:17 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173449 As I approach the big 60 next month, God's mercy becomes more wonderful and marvelous every day, as does my giving thanks to God. Merry Christmas to you and all readers! As I approach the big 60 next month, God’s mercy becomes more wonderful and marvelous every day, as does my giving thanks to God.

Merry Christmas to you and all readers!

]]> By: mort_chien http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173419 mort_chien Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:23:32 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173419 Have a blessed Christmas Michael - you and your family. Thank you for writing. Have you considered a book? Blogging is nice - most of the time. But its main weakness is how unnuanced it can appear, no matter how hard one tries. Easy to be misunderstood. Mild criticism or modest disagreement can easily appear harsh. You could spend more time on a book. Think about it for 2008. Grace, Mort Have a blessed Christmas Michael – you and your family. Thank you for writing. Have you considered a book? Blogging is nice – most of the time. But its main weakness is how unnuanced it can appear, no matter how hard one tries. Easy to be misunderstood. Mild criticism or modest disagreement can easily appear harsh. You could spend more time on a book. Think about it for 2008.

Grace,
Mort

]]> By: Beth http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173301 Beth Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:08:20 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173301 Thanks for posting this. I've found myself in a George Bailey kind of year this year (not that I'm in the second half of life, but I've lost my hometown--and all the friends and family that go with it; two babies to a miscarriage; and last week, I lost my job). It has been difficult to reconcile all of this with my faith, especially the miscarriage of twins after two years of patiently waiting out infertility, but the further down this road I go, the more I find that I'm susceptible to despondency *and* demanding an answer from God. I've finally started to come to terms with the idea that we're not promised anything in this life, with a little help from my husband, some friends, and your post, I'm starting to see that there's at least a lesson in all of this if not a light at the end of a tunnel. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as pleasant as they make it out to be on the silver screen ;) I'd happily take a night with Clarence for some perspective, but I suspect that doesn't happen in real life! Thanks for posting this. I’ve found myself in a George Bailey kind of year this year (not that I’m in the second half of life, but I’ve lost my hometown–and all the friends and family that go with it; two babies to a miscarriage; and last week, I lost my job). It has been difficult to reconcile all of this with my faith, especially the miscarriage of twins after two years of patiently waiting out infertility, but the further down this road I go, the more I find that I’m susceptible to despondency *and* demanding an answer from God. I’ve finally started to come to terms with the idea that we’re not promised anything in this life, with a little help from my husband, some friends, and your post, I’m starting to see that there’s at least a lesson in all of this if not a light at the end of a tunnel. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as pleasant as they make it out to be on the silver screen ;) I’d happily take a night with Clarence for some perspective, but I suspect that doesn’t happen in real life!

]]> By: Dave http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173298 Dave Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:54:26 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173298 All three guys are seeing things as they relate to their earthly lives. You can chase after material possesions all your life and in the end, someone swipes your camels. I worry about money all of the time. My wife and I both work full time and we have four kids. I fully rely on the hope of storing treasures in heaven. That's probably the only retirement package I can count on. All three guys are seeing things as they relate to their earthly lives.
You can chase after material possesions all your life and in the end, someone swipes your camels.

I worry about money all of the time. My wife and I both work full time and we have four kids. I fully rely on the hope of storing treasures in heaven. That’s probably the only retirement package I can count on.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173283 Charlie Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:25:48 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173283 Thanks for the thought-provoking piece. I need more midlife encouragement. I have worked for the same company for 30 years. I'm 48 years old and retirement is at the doorstep. I do not want any part of the typical American retirement mentality, but where to go from here has so far eluded me. Keep the thoughts coming:-) Thanks for the thought-provoking piece. I need more midlife encouragement. I have worked for the same company for 30 years. I’m 48 years old and retirement is at the doorstep. I do not want any part of the typical American retirement mentality, but where to go from here has so far eluded me. Keep the thoughts coming:-)

]]> By: McCarley http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173186 McCarley Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:58:05 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173186 This is my first time on your site and it was the perfect inspiration I didn't know I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to write it. You never know whose reading and sometimes you don't know what your giving either. Happy holidays. This is my first time on your site and it was the perfect inspiration I didn’t know I was looking for. Thanks for taking the time to write it. You never know whose reading and sometimes you don’t know what your giving either. Happy holidays.

]]> By: Dan http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-173016 Dan Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:26:26 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/three-christmas-stories-for-the-second-half-of-life#comment-173016 This is brilliant! Thanks. This is brilliant! Thanks.

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