Christmas Potpouri

CS Lewis, was the  most important Christian intellectual of the 20th century. He was a British poet, christian apologist and novelist, literary critic, essayist and medievalist, and a break-through children's book writer of his time.
Fifty years ago he published an essay called "Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus". He writes about the strange winter customs of a barbarian nation and what he wrote about is increasingly true in our country today. The Christmas rush begins too early and Christians lose sight of what the Advent season is  all about. After Christmas sales starting today, IMO continue to mock the true meaning of what happened on Christmas day.

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" teaches the terrific challenge of Christmas with the heart-rendering self-discovery of Scrooge,and does so with laughter, outrage and incredible feeling.
But enough said about the wrongs and  the challenges of this beautiful holy season. It is a time to rejoice and open our hearts to others; a time to be thankful for our blessings.

I am particularly thankful for a second career of writing. The success of my five published books has given me much joy and accomplishment. I still have hopes for my work in progress, although time is slowing down for me, I intend to give it my all, just as I did for  the first.  When Monday rings in the new year 2015, I will take time to savor the best of the many pages that came alive in print for me and the many who helped to make that happen. The first and last novels were historicals: Four Summers Waiting and The Red Cockade. The contemporary series, Maine Shore Chronicles included Finding Fiona, Moonglade, and Promise Keeper. I wish all my colleagues and readers a productive Happy New Year filled with good books and good times.