Thistle Cove Farm

Christmas Eve 2007

It's Christmas Eve and the weather has turned a bit colder; it was below freezing last night but still above "normal" for this time of year. The Christmas moon is full and pregnant with anticipation. Even as full as it is, I don't believe it would dim the star that led the wise men to the Christ child. It's said that on Christmas Eve, around midnight, the animals regain their speech and talk about that long ago night. My beliefs are Bible based but not held to the limited imagination of men or women. The Bible speaks of unicorns and I firmly believe unicorns existed...long ago and in memory time dimmed so we humans speak of them as fanciful or figments of imaginations.

Not so! The God of All Creation, the Alpha and Omega, who made life forms we have yet to discover, much less understand, made unicorns. And humans, being the ungrateful creation we have shown ourselves to be, hunted them into extinction. As we have hunted and killed into extinction so many others of His creation and are the poorer for having done so.

Do I believe animals speak? Absolutely! I'm not quite ready to believe they speak English, my language. I know for certain they understand English, my language, for they listen to me and understand words I'm telling them. They know their names and come when called. I believe it was, once, a Very Different World that world of Adam and Eve. When God walked with them in the Garden, in the cool of the day, each and all live in harmony and peace, no want, no worries. It wasn't the animals who changed things and not for the better.

I've been at the barn at midnight on Christmas Eve and listened to the animals talk to each other. Mostly, it's in sighs and murmurs; the horses tend to nuzzle each other and when I arrive, some of them will come and lay their heads on my shoulders. I wrap my arms around as many as I can touch and we stand there, almost silent, caught up in the mystery. Sometimes I'll go into the sheep pasture and sit on a rock while the sheep crowd around me, fighting for the opportunity to have their noses kissed or their chins scratched. I've asked them, both horses and sheep, what their distant kin have said down through the ages but no one is telling family secrets.

Our dogs are elderly and two of the three don't understand my need to be with the animals on such a Holy Eve but, they go with me, grumbling all the way. The Jack Russell, Abigail, is delighted to be out in the middle of the night and goes on a tear as she searches night smells and sounds. Dave thinks I'm crazy and warns me against getting sick, or, getting sicker. I've been ill for the past six weeks and am, only now, gaining my strength.

Yesterday's church service was, as always, thought providing and provoking. During one prayer, Pastor Jim said, "forgive us when we seek amusement instead of fulfillment."

I'd never really thought about it before but amusement is so temporary, so transient and ephermeral while fulfillment brings about satisfaction and a sense of fullness and well-being. Fulfillment also suggests an end, perhaps after being sated. As I've aged, I find more joy and satisfaction in activities that bring fulfillment. Frequently, such activities are also amusing such as gathering with fiber friends and spinning, knitting or quilting; though rarely do I find amusement also fulfilling.

Christmas is fulfilling as well as fulfillment. I didn't put up a tree but there are Nativity scenes scattered throughout the house and studio. My gifts aren't wrapped but will be surrounded by tissue paper and tucked into stockings. There's no traditional meal planned but Dave is making crab and lobster soup and with cheese, crackers and a tempting Merlot we'll have a divine feast. Perhaps we'll open a bottle of bubbly instead; there's a nice Saint Hilaire we've been saving.

We spent yesterday afternoon, gathered at the Thompson Valley fire and rescue squad building sharing a covered dish luncheon. Afterwards, we all stood on both sides of several 6 foot tables, end to end, and stuffed bags full of candy, pencils, pads, posters, fruits and other giveaways. The fire engines are going throughout the valley, as I write this, giving bags to every child.

Last week, Dave was able to visit his Mother and sister; perhaps I'll visit my family next week. In the meantime, we'll spend Christmas at home, in the company of each other and our animals.

Contented and fulfilled.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holydays.

she panted, catching her breath ~ sweat streams pouring and steam rising from her body.  the baby, wet and bloodied ~ dark face, dark eyes, dark skin ~ willingly shoved into the world. he, taking wisps of hay ~ trying to clean his son ~ fear making him clumsy. she held out her arms ~ took her robe's hem and wiped ~ then swaddled Him in her death shroud. only for the moment ~ peace and stillness ~ with the warmth of love and the animals.

Blessings ~ Christmas and the Christ child ~ family ~ friends ~ fulfillment ~ being able to give unto others ~ a little country church filled with the saints of God ~