There is something about babbling brooks and running streams that does a soul good. One of the most memorable camping trips that I have ever had was beside such a stream. It was located in a remote part of the Angelina National Forest in East Texas. We had been hiking for a good portion of the day through the thick of the forest, tromping through a lightly trodden trail that had become overrun with brush and vegetation. It appeared that no conservation crews had maintained the trail in a long time, nor had anyone traversed that way for about as long. It was a wonderful feeling of adventure trekking through an area that was far removed from the beaten paths that others had taken.

For many years now, I’ve tried, but have been unable to see them. I’m not sure what I am doing wrong, but I have always been completely oblivious to the hidden images in stereograms.

On the Feast of the Incarnation we celebrate Almighty God’s decision to become man by assuming the body of a human being. The Heavenly Father announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the Mother of God’s only Begotten Son. Mary had been Immaculately conceived in her mother womb, and was made ready from her conception for this supreme moment in the History of the world.

Christmas has been so misunderstood over the years. The Separatists (aka Pilgrims) and the Puritans thought that celebrating Christmas was sinful because it was not in the Bible. The Puritans believed it was wrong to make one day more important than the others. They banned Christmas in their colony from 1659-1680. Dec. 25 was even a required work day.