O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. While in Israel a few ago, we sang this popular hymn while standing in the cave where Jesus Christ was born. I can hear it now: “Wait a minute: Jesus was born in a stable!” Well, yes... Read more
Happy Holidays! Hope that doesn’t offend you. After all, it’s been a common expression for many decades. Take, for example, this 1942 hit, written by Irving Berlin and performed by the beloved Bing Crosby. Mr. Crosby was encouraging folks to come stay at Holiday Inn, where they might find relaxation, peace, quiet, comfort, and rest. Doesn’t that sound nice? Since the Inn was only open on holidays, he was referring to all holidays when singing this hit song. But how... Read more
I recently heard a version of this joke: A well to do businessman was rushing home from a late Christmas Eve meeting when he realized he had not yet purchased a gift for his wife. He ran into the nearest department store, raced up to the perfume counter, and asked for a reasonably priced bottle of perfume. The sales clerk brought out a lovely $50 bottle of perfume to which the husband responded that while it was really nice, he... Read more
It was my mother’s birthday. Well, technically, it was the day after her birthday, but it was the day we were celebrating. I called my “baby” sister and asked her to gather the family in the den – in the back of the house so that they couldn’t peek out the front window when I arrived. I nervously pulled into the driveway, thankful it had been re-paved and was no longer as bumpy as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. I opened... Read more
One year ago today, I shared the thrilling news that my husband and I adopted a little girl. I’ll never forget the moment I first laid eyes on her. She was 2 months and 5 days old, and when the door opened and the precious woman holding her placed that baby in my arms – I knew. I knew she was our daughter. And right at the end of adoption month, it became legal. Permanent. Forever. Thankfully, we have had a... Read more
***This was first published on Patheos on November 20, 2017.*** According to history.com, “In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.”... Read more
***This is an edited version of a blog I first shared here on Patheos in November 2017.*** November is here, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I’m left thinking about how blessed I am…and how little gratitude I show. As we approach this Thanksgiving, I am thinking about how I can decrease my desire for what I don’t have and generate more gratitude for what I do have. And while your desires may be different than mine, perhaps you can... Read more
One Halloween night many years ago, instead of staying at home waiting for cute children in costumes to ring my doorbell, I attended a meeting with several other Christian women. In an effort to liven things up, I picked up some small festive bags and tucked a few pieces of candy in each one. I carried them along to the meeting, thinking the all female group would appreciate some chocolate that they didn’t have to sneak from their kids’ trick... Read more
There was great debate over how to approach Gender Identity Disorder when the latest edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual was being developed. The DSM-5 task force settled on Gender Dysphoria. Some people believe that it is harmful to diagnose a transgendered individual. If that is the case, then it is harmful to identify anything as mental illness. It is difficult and painful to be diagnosed with a mental illness. No one wants to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, or any... Read more
I love America. I mean, I really love America. In 2004, while my husband was deployed with the NAVY, I competed in a pageant (another post for another day) where the ladies wore wearing red, white, and blue for the opening number. We paraded on stage and sang patriotic songs. One of the husbands of a fellow contestant that I had befriended commented to me that no one sang their heart out as much as I did. Oh, I sang.... Read more
Dr. Laurel Shaler
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