Makes one smile

Christmas Eve was spent quietly, watching TV with my husband and using the commercial breaks to zip into another room to wrap gifts. Just after midnight we decided to head to bed. Arni started to turn off the TV and accidentally switched channels instead to a program that was a musical celebration held in a cathedral. It was beautiful, the music and the setting, and lured us in for another hour of wakefulness. It has been a long time since I've heard many of those pieces - I do miss them, sometimes, and was tickled to realise that after 30 years I still remembered my parts on some of them and that their deep beauty could still raise goosebumps and reverence.

The concert featured singing by groups identified as "St Joseph _____" (Choir, Men's Schola, Sisters of the Adoration) and that made me smile - we send a donation to a St. Joseph's Indian School every quarter. It's on a reservation in South Dakota near where Arni grew up. We don't really pay much attention to it beyond sending the money to help out - if we'd let them, we'd be inundated with letters and gifts from their fund-raising committee so I called and made a deal; they send us one letter/update every 3 months as a reminder to me of the date and I send them money to help with school costs. It works for us and doesn't waste their resources on 'advertising'.

So it was a surprising warm-hearted joy to learn, as the credits rolled at the end of the show, that the program we'd been enjoying so much, that had filled us with memories of Christmases Past, was being broadcast from St. Joseph's Cathedral, Souix City, SD. The very same diocese where our little school is located.

"Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me..." Their final song and the pastor's blessing. It's a good one to carry into the New year.