Les collects methane in Vermont and is changing the world. The collection involves committees, lawyers, laws, planning, driving, technology, farmers, farms and cows. It all ends with cow’s ends and mucking about in boots. Methane is collectable energy that can be turned into electricity, but those pre-methane paddies in piles are sloppy underfoot and leave a particularly powerful odor that permeates clothes, leaving them stinky. When Les gets home from his once a week farm visits, Mica makes him leave his duty duds out in the mudroom. If Les, stripped to his boxers, gets into the kitchen but leaves the door open, the farm fresh smell fills the house. In summer it’s easy, open the windows! In winter, only burning incense helps. The sweet smoke scent masks other odors.

Ever wonder why the wise men of the East brought frankincense to Jesus in a manger? I never did until today, when I wondered to myself, “A baby in a manger — a manger is found in a barn, a barn is on a farm, a farm is filled with animals, animals are filled with…" and so I pondered the mystery of a barn none-too-sweet and the dear Baby and His mother and father who wanted, like you or I, or Les or Mica, to smell sweetness. There is no mystery to orthodox frankincense. In the early church, when churches were barns, frankincense covered odors.

The only mystery here is how a Boy, born in a manger and nestled near animals, grew into the man whose words linger and cling like Holy smoke.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, let the mystery of how You teach us envelope us like Holy Smoke, overpower our souls, and change lives. Amen.

Today’s Thought Is: Holy Smoke and Merry Christmas

 

Source: Matthew 2:11 NRS

A kitchen table story by M. & L. K., Vermont, 2009