On Saturday I was sitting at my desk in my office at church trying to put the final touches on my sermon when I looked up and saw one of our neighbor foxes wandering by. I stood up to see him better and he stopped. Sat right down. It seemed he was looking right at me.    

 

I wonder if he was as curious as I was. It reminded me of Christmas a few years ago when we were visited at services by several different animals, all seeming to be looking in to see what the fuss was about. It also reminded me of the old tale about the animals talking on Christmas Eve. Here is the story I wrote about that.  

 

The story concludes:

So it is every Christmas Eve. The animals watch. They listen to the people's songs. And they hope and hope that the message that Jesus brought will ring out on that night and every night. 

 

The squirrel hopes. The squirrel hopes that the people will stop scurrying around long enough to hear the angels sing.

 

The deer hopes. The deer hopes that the people will make peace with one another, no matter what the color of their skin, the religion they practice or the country they come from.

 

And the fox hopes. The fox hopes that the people will learn to be clever enough to look beyond what they expect to see and discover what is really there. The possibility of peace on earth.

 

If you see them tonight, give them a smile. Maybe they'll tell their friends that you have believe too.

 

I wish for you the sighting of a fox or a squirrel or anything at all that helps you believe again.

 

Yours,
Mary Katherine