Archive for December, 2010
4 items.
Dec26
No comic this week. It’s the holidays after all.
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year.
And thanks to everyone who reads the comic. Please keep it up, and tell people about it. There’s lots more comicy goodness coming in the new year.
Jared
Comment
Dec19
Instead of posting my own comments on this issue, I thought I would direct you to this article that inspired the comic.
The comic is a little late. I suffered a flash flu over the weekend, which gave me every reason to not work on it. It’s hard to believe Christmas is so close. I realize anticipation of presents isn’t the best motivation for excitement, because it stems from a greedy desire. But I have to admit, I miss those days when I was a kid eagerly awaiting Christmas morning. Seeing all those lovely gifts under the tree was so exciting. I’m not even sure it was the presents themselves, (it probably was), but it was such a happy moment with family on a quiet morning, as we gathered around the tree for an hour and then ate delicious breakfast, (the best meal of the day).
As the nature of this event changed over the years, it became more of a get in, get the presents, and get out scenario. I don’t know if it’s something that happens as the kids get older, or if it’s a sign of the times, but it seems spending quality time with family isn’t a popular as it used to be. It makes me wonder, what if what made the morning magical was my eagerness at getting and enjoying the gifts, and my parents getting a kick out of my excitement. As We all got older, and cared a little bit less about the presents we got, it seemed Christmas morning took on a more practiced feeling.
So my young greedy nature, in my mind, made for some great Christmas memories. Odd how giving into one sin brought about joy. Or perhaps sins are more complex than that. As C.S. Lewis pointed out in Mere Christianity, evil is only a twisting of something that is good. So wanting things for yourself is good, but it can be easily twisted to something that is not good. It seems a fine line, and I wonder if the Christmas holiday provides a convenient excuse to cross it.
Musings aside, I still like Christmas, and approve the idea of presents. Since I enjoy getting them for other people too. So Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you get some great gifts, be it cool stuff, or time with friends and family.
Thanks for reading.
Jared
Dec12
So apparently this series of comics is mostly about the awkwardness of Joseph. But really, it’s a pretty awkward situation for him. I think he deals with it quite well. Or maybe he fears being struck by a lightning bolt if he refuses to go along with it.
I think these days think it’s taken for granted that little baby Jesus was born in a manger. But it’s kind of interesting why. It’s because the whole town is jam packed with people, because everyone has to register with the government. And ironically, this is also when Herod is hunting for little baby Jesus so he can kill him. And it’s right after this Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt. What timing.
Nothing really interesting to say about it beyond that. Most everyone knows the Christmas story. I suppose I could comment on the irony of how the biggest christian rallying point of the year has been commandeered by greed, one of the more surreptitious sins. If you believe Satan is real, and that he attempts to influence such things, you have to admit this is a pretty brilliant move on his part. But I digress. Christmas is fun, and nothing good comes of complaining about it. Holiday tree, Christmas tree, potato, potaahto (although it’s spelled potato people). It’s the one time of year we all don’t have to be jerks to one another. Rejoice!
Thanks for reading.
Jared
Dec05
I enjoy the idea that angels just interrupt our regular dreams when they visit, instead of making new ones. I wonder what dreams are, that angels can appear in them to communicate with us. Why do we have them, and how come we don’t know what’s going to happen in a story our own brain is concocting. I have to admit, I may have embellished this week’s comic with some of my own dream topics. A common thread I seem to have in my dreams is dealing with zombies. I don’t know why, but the idea of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world with zombies fascinates me. I’m sure everyone has some kind of topic that appears often in their dreams. My wife seem to dream about common stuff, whatever she’s involved in at the time. That never seems happens to me. Anyway…
So the story continues, as Joseph gets divine confirmation that Mary is not crazy, or cheating on him. Tune in next week for the continuing story of Jesus’ birth, We Like Sheep style.
Thanks for reading.
Jared