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A Midwinter's Dream
by Mike O'Neill
He felt good. Late December, a completed deal, and
good weather for the drive home. He mentally mapped
his route, then settled in for the long drive.
The sun was setting as he turned off the highway and
headed across country on the county road. A sickle
moon hovered to his left and snow sparkled in the fields
as his reliable old pickup pounded bare pavement.
Things were going well and his mind wandered over the
day's activities. It was a good sale, lots of time to deliver
and agreement for payment on that. date. He had made
some money.
It occurred to him that the sign indicated that pave-
ment was ending, but caused no alarm. He had a good
truck, lots of gas and he was still going in the direction
he wanted. Going a bit slower on dry gravel, he never
noticed that clouds were silting across the moon and the,
road was a bit narrower. Ile thought about business and
how good it Telt to be on the way to retaking a liyofr at
something he enjoyed
It had been snowing for a little, while befog it
dawned on hien The road began t- "hrougrh thicker
hush. at some place actually to side of the
truck lie slowed dowel as the r .&J and followed
the topography now given .. rises and steep
declines Snow pelted down ai►d visibility became non
existent HIS headlights rdlected off of the fluffy flakes,
having a hypnotic affect.
Twenty minutes later, slowly pressing on, gripping
the wheel and keeping the truck ori the road, he won-
dered how he missed any turn oils Where was this road
taking hien anyway? Snow piled up. Ile was aware that
he crossed a bridge arid suddenly there was someone
right in front of hi in Hitting the brakes, he held the
vehicle straight and stopped within inches of a yourig
boy. Hi's heart pounded as he climbed out of the cab.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"1' In OK, he said. "I Just wanted to protect iity
sheep...
A. bleating sound announced the presence 01 animals
rendered invisible by the snow.
"1 was trying t() g(.t thein home when the snow carne.
1 was afraid you couldn't see them."
The pian had a fleeting thought of a shepherd who
would give up his life for his flock He was aware of the
serenity in Inc tact ()l the boy, but dr(Jn't wonder about
it
"!How many do you have?" he asked as he peered into
the gloom
"'These are the t,2 my lather gave me. I have others
"Will tliey fit in my. truck? I can haul them home fi)r
you if you'd like."
Merry Christmas
...from the Rarnbler
Christmas is a special time,
a warm and cheery season.
It's the season to he joyful,
the season to believe.
It's the season to be grateful
for the blessings we receive:
It's the season of gladness,
the season of good cheer.
All this I. wish for you,
And a wonderful new year..
•••
"OK."
They started loading the sheep. It seemed normal that
the box of the pickup would have straw in it and the cap
the right height. All 12 fit in perfectly.
Climbing back into the cab to face that wall of snow
was somewhat intimidating. He thought a prayer and
dropped the truck into gear. They moved forward, gin-
gerly feeling their way along the narrow road.
The child told him they should be approaching a gap
in the cedars to the right. lit would be the gate to his
place, where he and his parents lived and had a small
business. They talked quietly as the snow became heav-
ier. He saw the cedars part and turned in. Soon a build-
ing loomed close and he stopped near what he hoped
was the right spot to unload the sheep.
"We made it!" he said as he let out his breath. He
reahted he'd been holding it for quite some time. "Let's
get these beasties into the ham."
"Thanks for helping me Dave," the child said. it
didn't seem odd that he knew his name, though he didn't
recall telling him what it was. As they finished up, he
said, "1 had faith you'd get us here."
"The only laith 1 have is that God won't send any-
thing to me that Ilim and me can't handle together.
Sounds preachy huh'!"
"It sounds neat. ('orae arid irleet my parents."
They walked through the snow that was starting to
swirl as the wind picked up. A door opened in front of
therm and per iltted entry to a low room with a table,
chairs and a fireplace. It was spartan and hare but bore a
charm and warmth that was comforting.
"This is my father Joe," said the boy, as a large man
moved to meet them.
"Welcome." he said.
Dave looked around the small space and knew it was
a combined living and work place.
"Thank you for helping our son," said Joe. "Stay for a
while and maybe the storm will let up."
They made him comfortable at the table and brought
stew and pita bread to him.
"This is great," he said. "I don't know what this is
though." He held up the pita bread.
"It is. a traditional bread from our homeland,",said the
boy's mother. "The rulers there made life hard for us, so
we came here."
"It's good," said Dave, around a mouthful of stew.
"Then you must take sortie home with you when the
storin lifts,"
The meal was delicious and very satisfying, though
different from anything he'd ever tasted. They talked
quietly and then moved to chairs in front of the fire-
place. Warmth and a full stomach played their magic
and Dave began to dote. Ile could hear their voices as it
in a distance. Through the velvet hare he heard, "Can
you help me clear the table Jesus')"
Ile halted upright. Ile was in his own room! Reside
hire his wife said, "Hey are you OK?" It must have been
a dream. A very real dream. He told his wife about it.
Ile finished with, "I don't remember driving honer."
Their live year old pushed open the bedroom door
and said, "Mommy, what's this')„
In her (lands was a package of pita bread.
`'!'was the Night !Before Christmas
by (;rn ra 1 & 2, Si. Joaepi'a
'twos the tight brittle ('htistrtas the slot was 0011 Maty and
)msr1111 It1iv<'llyd lu il1-111100'111 111 he .101111'd Maty Telt vet y hued,
weak and vets Ipr rnunl She knew bet baby was r inning soon
"Joseph . 4n you find me a Idat r In fro 1„
'I t1 1/ Olt, ,0111#11d as 1' alt to ilii! is a plat to sty !how Matto
101s ion t .
' 1lets looks bur, 1et's err 41 they have a Imn111 "
1111 W. 111 u1 Ih1 11.011 011111. nut ked All Matt put wait gtnwly
'0111C. told Jus. 1111 alai h.' .lulu t have, any tomtit int thein
-lint 1 to suing to have a baby titin, we mist get a tomtit"
Iltey moved down the street in lite next hotel but the',Mite thing
1101qu med akanl Su y'aid h,tclth went to yet anodic' Intact whin h
'was also lull lint they wete untied a stable Ion the night And Jesus
was bulls
Sud;Scaly 0 gicat lig stat 01111eati d 111e 1111. 11111111 keet,et was aur
1,1iatd In see a halo), wtalytrd t I r!nibs 111 a mange, Wise11u11 and.
)O 1 >ie,11tctds. 41111 hunt alai and r.tlthtated that Jesus (inti the Sav lout
w0a 11111 Maly ICh lrheved 11101 flet baby was iron to a Salt'and
w01toplat e
Crate 1'e
Kilies-3a-
Christmas
Customs
in India
('hrisuans nt India deco
cute mango or banailit
trees at ('hristinai time.
Sometimes they also
decorate their houses with
iliiinggtl leaves. In some
Dart, of India, small clay
oil -burning tamps are
used Os ('tirislillas decora-
tions; they are placed on
the edges of flat roots amt
on the tops of walls;
Churches are decorated
with poinsettias and lit
with .candles 'tut' the
( 'Int stunts Even service.
Holiday
schedule
`stall ,it the Sentinel
N'lll 1l,J4t' i 1ti1511lt.is 1)a0.
and Boxing 1)ay ,ts huil-
day,,
'lite dt: adltuc tot the
Jan 1 liallrl Is I ` mutt
1111, 1 )r'r' 27 .
"1 hat pititt'i will be Ott
the mail and at alta Acid
els on ()Ct.'. i 1.
favi: a sate and merry
Christmas.