CHRISTMAS

To discover how to be truthful now

Is the reason to follow the star.

To discover how to be living now

Is the reason to follow the star.

To discover how to be loving now

Is the reason to follow the star.

                        Snippets from W. H. Auden

Dear Family and Friends,

Each Advent I read Auden’s For The Time Being, A Christmas Oratorio. Each year I find deeper and more powerful insights into the meaning of Advent and Christmas. The lines quoted above shone out to me recently. Read them again. I remain a Christian believer because I yearn to be truly truthful, truly living and truly loving. As a follower of Jesus I do my best to help the hungry, care for the widows and orphans, seek justice and peace and heal the sick. Focusing on those basic issues is my way of telling the truth, authentically living and deeply loving. Of course, others find different ways of being human. The political and social expressions of “following the star” are supporting the Affordable Health Care Act providing health care for more and more Americans. I participate in the anti-war movement, support immigrant rights and work with and for LGBT citizens to assure full civil rights for all people.

In addition to trying to be human beings, we do some traveling.  We took a pleasant cruise to Puerto Vallarta where we have been many times. Ann went birding; I went to Wal-Mart’s for aspirin. I wasn’t feeling well. In April we went to Pt. Reyes, CA for Ann’s birthday. We went to the family cabin in Utah for two weeks in August. We had Thanksgiving with my daughters and grandchildren in New England as well as four days in Manhattan. We have great travel plans for 2014 but you will have to wait until next Advent to read about them.

I love the computer, Internet and techie stuff. Ann hates them, mostly. I have a computer, an iPhone, Internet, Facebook, printer and fax machine. I do not know how they work or even how to use them very well. For instance, I have a Twitter account called church maniac but have never used it. I think it is all great.  Ann disagrees.

Ann continues her exciting and interesting life. Book groups, four classes a semester at the Fromm Institute, writing classes, Internet correspondence, and she and looks after me with her sweetness and love.

We love hearing from you and hope you have all the joys of a blessed Christmas and most joyful New Year.

Love,

Robert and Ann

Ann and Robert Cromey, 3839 20^th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114. Ann- anncromey2@gmail.com,

Robert- twocromeys@earthlink.net