Three Beautiful Things 12/01/13: Advent Hope and Vision and Idealism, The Luxury of the Abyss, Love the Rubin

1.  Today is the first Sunday of Advent and so churches and Christians world-wide now enter into a month of preparation for and anticipation of the arrival of Jesus Christ.  Such anticipation moves the church to be idealistic, to imagine the best the world can be and this idealism is born of the hope embodied in the birth of Jesus.  We find ourselves imagining the world as the best it could be, are inspired and driven by such vision, even if it never comes to be.  The dream, the hope inspires me.  I read Isaiah 2:1-5 today and this passage is filled with the hope of a New World, especially in these lines:

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

We heard further longing for a New World in Psalm 122 where the hopes of the world are expressed through hope for the city of Jerusalem:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 

 "May they prosper who love you.

Peace be within your walls 

 and quietness within your towers.

For my brethren and companions' sake, 

I pray for your prosperity.

Because of the house of the LORD our God, 

 I will seek to do you good."

The choir sang a motet by John Blow this morning with Psalm 116 as its setting.  It was gorgeous.  I loved entering into this season of Advent, of vision, idealism, hope, and anticipation, this morning.

2.  The Deke and I relaxed this afternoon and completed different tasks for work and our life at home and continued our relaxation at 16 Tons by each enjoying a pint of that deep, dark, rich, beautiful once a year Imperial Stout from Deschutes Brewing:  The Abyss.

3.  We decided to split a Rubin (their spelling) at the Pour House so we could continue our conversations and be out of the house a little longer.  The sandwich was really, really good.  The beer could only be a letdown after The Abyss, but we knew that going in.  No problem.