i happen to live with the winner

Established in 1984, named for Richard R. Dilling, an industry pioneer and former Vice President of AIM, the Dilling Award is the highest award given in the Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) industry. It is presented to executives, scientists, and engineers in recognition of outstanding contributions that have furthered the growth of the industry through important applications and new technological developments. The recipient is nominated and selected by the AIM president, and committee of the industry's elite. Only one award is made each year, selected from many worthy candidates.

birdie

I wasn't sure of the species until a pro golfer took aim recently and killed one. When it was reported to be a Red Shouldered Hawk that interrupted the golfer's videotaping, I knew that its distinctive call contributed to the culprit's downfall. For over a year, I've watched but mostly heard several of these birds reigning in the woods and over the stream behind our house.

On Saturday, while I was monitering stormy weather from the sunporch and phoning our son near downtown Atlanta to take shelter in his laundry room, two of these large colorful creatures swooped within inches of the window. They lit together on a nearby tree limb long enough for me to call my husband away from the tv news report. As we watched, one glided to a lower limb while the other proceeded to chip away at what it held between its talons.

24 hours later and several miles away, as we hiked from the church building to a nearby sports arena where we had parked the car, we heard the piercing call and spied its silhouette high in a leafless tree.

visit the shack

I was intrigued when a friend handed me a copy to read and said we'd discuss. I don't take much time for fiction and if it's scary, it doesn't make for bedtime reading, my sedative of choice. But I savor the attention of this friend with her unique perspective, so I did as I was told.

When we shared notes, these emerged as similarities:

• we experienced a happiness despite the story's circumstances; a lightening of our burdens.
  
• we explored abandonment issues.
  
• we accepted the premise that the son is the reliable way to know the father, but there are many ways to knowing the son.

Return to the most human,
nothing less will nourish the torn spirit,
the bewildered heart,
the angry mind:
and from the ultimate duress,
pierced with the breath of anguish,
speak of love.

Return, return to the deep sources,
nothing less will teach the stiff hands a new way to serve,
to carve into our lives the forms of tenderness
and still that ancient necessary pain preserve.

Return to the most human,
nothing less will teach the angry spirit,
the bewildered heart;
the torn mind,
to accept the whole of its duress,
and pierced with anguish…
at last, act for love.

~ May Sarton ~

transparent containers clearly marked

And so the hemorrhage throughout December is followed by January's purge.
The advertising bulk of the daily newspaper shrinks while the hype
to shed pounds of clutter is every morning show's clarion call.

Christmas reign

Whether I like to admit it or not, Christmas is a defining mark of every year. It's wrapped with anticipation and accomplished through practice. It requires clues, closets and comics saved up for wrapping paper. As Garrison Keillor says: a lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. When I whine about the holiday being a lot of work, my husband reminds me of our experiences with shoveling snow. Necessary and to be repeated.

Christmas interrupts down-time, re-arranges personal goals and creates the pangs of homesickness. It tempts the legalist to force a religious connection for the 25th day of the twelfth month and delights the worshiper to expect the divine at any time. To decorate and bake, shop and ship, and assemble the Nativity to somehow include shepherds, manger, and magi is like trying to keep lightning bugs alive and glowing in a glass jar for more than a few days. All those creatures have to eat.

Getting through Christmas is reminiscent of the nearly year-long effort of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. When the older sibling is finally introduced to the newborn, a special gift is unwrapped, one they may not even have known they wanted or needed, but neither life will ever be the same. As if encountering an alien, big brother or sis, wide-eyed with curiosity, gingerly pats the infant and utters lyrics of adoration. Patience blankets the room. Little legs scramble to the bed, the playroom, even to lower kitchen cupboards to collect prized possessions--some of them pretty hilarious--as the baby is circled with the impromptu sacrifices. Peace seems possible, but tranquility will expire as expectations creeping over the horizon forecast sleepless and not so silent nights.

What draws me through Christmas is the world's homecoming of kindred spirits, the promise of sharing intangible gifts, the peace of resting in the work that Jesus finished, God's presence in surprises. As the New Year's calendar conceives another Christmas Day, I resolve--again--to meet its December deadline for delivery. Maybe I'll manage with less fuss over stuff. Fulfilling obligations to others may be a reliable way to happiness, but it's the thankfulness to Christ in all circumstances that creates memories that can't be contained in a shiny wrapped box tied with ribbon. Gratitude brings unexplainable joy like a no strings attached gift card to be spent extravagantly every day.

It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God – the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people – kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people – no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…Fr. Andrew Greeley

finally...

Juicy Crittoure: The new wardrobe of couture canine fragrance and poochie personal care, $14-$60.

just a little bit

It's a funny thing about family. You can see your sister only a few times
a year and still think you know her so well. Mine was in town for a few days so we drove up to Dillard to see mountain things, catch up on conversation, and satisfy our hunger at the Dillard House.

Dillard's feast is served family style. All kinds of staples and delicacies brought to the table and you get to pick and choose and pass the platters. However, the aproned cook never shows up to sit down, so at some point, you may ask the server to explain a dish. And he's likely to respond, "Recipe book, gift shop." Sis eagerly bought one on the way out, but the coveted pork tenderloin with cherry sauce secret and the basic iced tea potion were not included.

As we worked ourselves through the meal, and after a while, it does take on the semblance of major assignment, we'd say, I'll have just a little of dressing and then a little bit of that onion thing. Will you pass me the squash casserole? Need a little bit of that.

My relationship with brother Jesus can be like this. There's those big occasions where we get together and have a great time. And afterwards, I may flip through his book now and then, looking for ingredients for that appealing fruit he serves up. I find myself choosing just a little bit of Jesus and thinking I'm fully acquainted.

But Jesus before daybreak or after I'm already stuffed with the menu du jour, today's list of busy? Giving up Me to have more of Him?