"Because": Meditating on Surprise, Loss, and the Nativity
In this gentle and reflective "Because" episode of “To Be and Do,” host Philip Amerson invites us to pause, just for a few moments, in the spirit of Advent—a season characterized by anticipation and wonder. this meditation weaves together personal memory, the meaning of community, and the power of poetic storytelling to guide us towards a more mindful and heartfelt experience of the holidays.
Philip Amerson opens with a universal appeal: that we are each children of God, that we all care about the future, and that our unique talents matter in these times. Through a simple, thoughtful question, Philip Amerson prompts us to recall a moment of genuine surprise—an experience so profound it left an indelible mark on our lives. For Philip Amerson, that memory is rooted in meeting Walter Wangerin Jr., a meeting that blossomed into a deep friendship but also fundamentally shaped his spiritual and professional journey.
The episode’s centerpiece is Wangerin’s poem, “The Carol of Warm and Cold,” a luminous rendering of the Nativity scene. As Philip Amerson recites the poem, listeners are drawn into the cold, humble space of the stable, feeling the chill of the air, the tenderness of Mary, the resourcefulness of Joseph, and the steadfastness of their animal companions. The poem beautifully underscores themes of vulnerability, shared humanity, and the mystery at the heart of Advent and Christmas.
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
- Surprising Encounters Shape Us: Philip Amerson reminds us that unexpected meetings—like his with Wangerin—can bring surprising lifelong blessings and open us to new purpose.
- The Power of Community and Memory: The episode reflects on how belonging and shared experiences, especially during challenging times, deepen our faith and connect us across generations.
- Embodying Advent’s Spirit: Through Wangerin’s poetry, Philip Amerson encourages us to embrace both warmth and vulnerability, seeing the Nativity not as an abstract story but as an experience rich with human emotion, resilience, and hope.
- A Call to Mindfulness This Season: Closing with a heartfelt Advent and Christmas blessing, Philip Amerson leaves listeners with a gentle nudge to enter this season with humility, wonder, and gratitude for those who walk alongside us.
Tune in for a beautifully crafted meditation that invites you to find meaning in simplicity, to remember the value of friendship, and to rediscover the soul of Advent.
Philip Amerson [00:00:01]:
This is Phil Amersonwith another brief meditation.
Philip Amerson [00:00:04]:
Because.
Philip Amerson [00:00:05]:
Because we are children of God. Because we care about the future, because we're gifted in so many ways in our time. When was the last time?
Philip Amerson [00:00:17]:
Well, let's ask it this way.
Philip Amerson [00:00:20]:
When was the time you were surprised by something that happened that lasted with.
Philip Amerson [00:00:26]:
You for the rest of your life?
Philip Amerson [00:00:28]:
For me, it was a day. I was new in Evansville, Indiana.
Philip Amerson [00:00:33]:
I had deliberately intended to get to.
Philip Amerson [00:00:37]:
Know my neighborhood, a poor core city neighborhood. And so I was out visiting, and one day I chanced upon the door of the office of Grace Lutheran Church. And inside I met Walter Wangarin Jr.
Philip Amerson [00:00:55]:
Walt was destined to become a dear, dear friend.
Philip Amerson [00:00:59]:
He passed away two summers ago. I continue to grieve that loss.
Philip Amerson [00:01:05]:
What was a remarkable pastor. Preacher.
Philip Amerson [00:01:09]:
I used to preach at St. John's United Methodist Church. And I knew that Walt was preaching down at Grace Lutheran. And so I would pray on Sunday mornings.
Philip Amerson [00:01:20]:
Oh, Lord, help me preach the second.
Philip Amerson [00:01:23]:
Best sermon in Evansville. Because I knew Walt, or Wally, as I called him, would preach the best.
Philip Amerson [00:01:29]:
He was quite an author. I often turn to his material during Advent. Here's a poem that Walt wrote. It's published in several places, but here.
Philip Amerson [00:01:39]:
It is in in the Days of the Angels. And the poem is entitled the Carol of Warm and Cold.
Philip Amerson [00:01:49]:
And it's about the Nativity. Mary, she blows on her knuckle the wind is so cold the night and the snow Mary, she blows on her.
Philip Amerson [00:02:02]:
Knuckle bone Joseph, he blows on the.
Philip Amerson [00:02:06]:
Coal the donkey that bore the young mother Sing lullabies on perilous ice the donkey that bore the young mother Bore the bearer of Jesus our Christ Mary, she hasn't the ticking cold Stone the floor and windy the door Mary, she hasn't a mattress for catching her Christ and our Lord Joseph, he doffs his warm clothing binding the hay A cradle creating Joseph, he makes of his woollen robe Swaddling sheep sheets for the babe we are the watchers who watch them Two cries in the night One pain, one delight we are the watchers When Mary breathes breath in the infant and life we are the beasts and the singers Baa ba Gloria we are the hosts and the herders who see and remember the sight While Mary, she blows on her baby the wind so cold, the night and the snow Mary, she.
Philip Amerson [00:03:33]:
Kisses her baby's toes.
Philip Amerson [00:03:37]:
And Joseph, he.
Philip Amerson [00:03:39]:
Brightens the coals.
Philip Amerson [00:03:42]:
May you have a.
Philip Amerson [00:03:43]:
Blessed Advent and Christmas. This is Phil Amerson for the Belonging Exchange, reading Walter Wangrin Jr's the Carol of Warm and Cold.
