for starters...

can you even begin to imagine the desperation people must have felt before Jesus walked the earth and was sacrificed? so many rules and regulations, specific procedures to follow, and no real hope that this would ever change. if you weren't royalty, there was really nothing exciting in life...the same thing day in and day out. and if you were, i believe there was a feeling deep inside that there was no point to all that you were doing. i think everyone has that type of feeling until they know Christ. i do think "weariness" is such a great word for what people must have felt.

the only thing that i can see that helped people to carry on was that small inkling of hope given to them by the prophets that there might actually be a Savior coming to change their lives, without any real understanding of quite how incredible that change would be. i mean, honestly, how could you even conceive of the fact that one person could come to earth in the flesh and be sacrificed so that rules, regulations, legalism, the curtain, etc. could all be done away with when those are the only things you've ever known? to me, that must have been absolutely incredible.

this is why my favorite (Christmas) song is "o holy night"...really my favorite song ever.

long lay the world,
in sin and error pining,
'til He appeared & the soul felt it's worth

the thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new & glorious morn.

_________________

in other news, i am really excited about the change of seasons. the weather is absolutely beautiful this week and i am so excited to be getting into the fall (which is pretty unusual if you know me)

this is quite a step for me, since i really do loathe the cold weather and i have seriously considered relocating to a place where there is no fall or winter, just warmth. but this year i think i have changed my mind...i don't think i could do without fall.

i simply LOVE the thought of lindsay's warm mountain apple cider, the state fair, hayrides and pumpkins, coming in at night and drinking hot chocolate to warm up, homecoming and sweaters and scarfs.
i think it's romantic.

anyway, i was just thinking about that first part of the entry and couldn't wait to write it. i'll update more later!