4th, 5th and 6th Day of Christmas- December 29,30 and 31

Ok. Gang. Obviously I'm playing a little catch up these last days of 2009.

Actually have to confess that I did'nt make it on the 4th Day!!!! Just ran out of time. Don't worry........I'll make it up......maybe I'll even throw in another day at the end..........make it a "bakers dozen" Days of Christmas.

I did have a good Nordic Track work out on the 5th Day. I laugh because you could get the impression that I'm on contract with Nordic Track!!!!! Actually it is a pretty old machine and I'm not even sure they make them anymore. It is really a simple contraption that simulates cross country skiing. Skiing cross country is a real workout and the machine does a decent job of simulating it!!! I went and donated blood after my workout on Day 5. The city has made a special push for blood donors during the holidays and the staff at the Blood Bank said they have been unusually busy. Thanks to all who responded with a blood donation.......there really is no substitute.

Today is Day 6, December 31, the last day of 2009 and I had a good run to close out the year. It was chilly, wet and foggy but one of those nice quiet days for a run. I don't know if it is my imagination but foggy and misty days like today seem to be quieter. It seems as if all the traffic noise etc. is muffled as if it were blanketed in cotton!!!!

We had a nice mass this morning for the last day of the year. Today is the 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas so I guess officially my 12 days are off by one day. Oh well!!!!!!

Let us pray together for our families, our communities, our nation and for all of God's people throughout the world. Hopefully 2010 will prove to be a year when we finally begin to welcome the Prince of Peace in a more profound way.

In the mean time...........KEEP ON RUNNIN'

Third Day of Christmas- December 28

Another good workout. I was laughing with a fellow runner because both of us have encountered people that thought we were crazy for running. We've had people get really upset saying it was to hot to run or too cold to run. I even had one lady say she was going to call the police! Oh well......we just keep on running.

Today, December 28 is the feast of the holy innocents, it commemorates the boys two and younger that Herod had killed after his visit with the Magi. I guess it teaches us something to be reminded that there was violent resistance to Christ even as a baby. It seems the very idea that God could be so close to us is threatening to some. We shouldn't be surprised that even to this day the strong resistance continues. Maybe we like the idea that we can pretend we are God. Let's use these Days of Christmas to rejoice that God has loved us so much and rid ourselves of the ways we resist His coming.

Second Day of Christmas- December 27

Another beautiful day, still pretty chilly but nice and sunny. I confess I ran out of daylight and ended up on the Nordic Track after dark. It is always a good workout but I miss the fresh air.

Today was Sunday and the Catholic calendar celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family. This is celebrated on the Sunday immediately after Christmas. It always seems appropriate to me that we celebrate the family in the midst of the holidays when so many of us are gathering with our families. It is a good time to reflect on the blessing of our families.

I'm also aware of the difficult time that many have because of the loss of loved ones. The holidays can be especially difficult if we have recently lost loved ones or if we are far away from home and unable to be with family. I have been blessed as a priest to always have family within a reasonable driving distance. I try to especially pray for the priests who are half a world away from their families during the holidays. We are blessed with many priests in our diocese in Tyler who have left home and family far behind in order to serve the people of God. We need to be especially thankful to them during the holidays.

As we approach the New Year why not go ahead and get started on that "new years resolution" to get some exercise!!!!!!!!

First Day of Christmas- December 26

Well I made the first run of my "Twelve Runs of Christmas". It was a nice day for a run, a little cool but nice and sunny. I guess you could count December 25 as the first day of Christmas nut I doubted I'd get a run in on Christmas day and I was right.

I hope that my 12 runs of Christmas will remind us all to keep celebrating the birth of our Lord for the whole Christmas season. The Catholic liturgical calendar offers us a whole season to celebrate the Feast of Christmas. It is still easy to slip back into regular routines leaving "the season" as something that only happens in Church.

One suggestion I make is to continue gift giving during the Christmas season. Gifts given during the season really aren't late.........it's still Christmas!!!!!!!

I hope you can get back out there and get some exercise. All of us have some "turkey and pumpkin pie" to get rid of!!!!!!!

December 7

Howdy........it's been a while but I am still here. Getting in some good runs as we zip through Advent.

I do have my next set of runs on the calendar........the 12 runs of Christmas beginning on December 26.

Have a blessed Advent.