A better slogan: “Make America Whole Again”

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

The past seven days have been epic in terms of food! Thanksgiving, then more Thanksgiving, decent cooking at home, the French restaurant in North Hills, Jack’s over at Rocky Mount Mills, then the Christmas Dinner at church.

Good grief, I am going to have to do some serious work in terms of ramping things down over the next week. Then simultaneously ramping up the exercise.

Food for the soul too

At church Wednesday evening it was not only dinner but also music in the sanctuary. We have a newly formed bell choir who performed admirably, then some of our Wonderful Wednesdays kids offered a creditable rendition of The Drummer Boy along with Go Tell it on the Mountain and an energetic Jingle Bells.

Both the kids and the bell ringers brought their enthusiasm and their joy with them and that makes all the difference.

In fact, living in a world and a culture that features so much in the way of cynicism and unbelief, where division and hostility reign supreme, the simple beauty of sitting in church with a hundred or so good people while listening to a bunch of kids yell “GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN!” like they really mean it is exactly what the doctor ordered… or should I say, The Great Physician.

There is a solution to the persistent angst that seems to be sitting like a dark cloud over America. It’s called “The Church;” it’s the place where inspiration, encouragement and mutual support join hands; it’s the place where God says, “Welcome Home.”

Make America Whole

In that spirit I’d like to suggest a more appropriate slogan for the coming decade or so, “Make America Whole.” This involves nothing in the way of looking back and everything about moving forward, together.

This is the “why” of Christmas. O come, O come Immanuel: