Blog Posts - trish hermanson

Why Go Caroling with Prostitutes?

12/19/2019

When my friend Mandie went Christmas caroling on the seamy side of town, a group of prostitutes joined in. “They knew their carols well,” she told me.
     I wonder if Jesus went caroling today, would he head for the prostitutes and other low-lifes? I think so. In his day, he shunned people who were satisfied with themselves and their accomplishments. Instead, he hung out with those who hungered for something more than what their lives measured up to.
     I’m not satisfied with life on this planet nor my part in it either. It’s all a mix of good and bad, justice and injustice, beauty and ugly. Even at its best, it doesn’t fill the longing inside me. Author C.S. Lewis explained, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
     Yet here we are, often simply whistling our tunes on the small stages of our lives. But there’s a larger song that's resonating, a cosmic one. And Jesus comes recruiting, asking if we want to join his chorus. All we need to do is grab onto his coattails before he passes by. Then we'll experience the “comfort and joy” the old Christmas carol speaks of.

My friend Mandie Gallagher
is president of the board
of Mean Street Ministry.

The MIA Wiseman Finally Shows Up!

12/10/2019

I’m showing my new grandson Judah the wiseman who has been missing in action from our nativity scene for nearly four decades. When I inherited this manger scene from my parents, the third wiseman had disappeared, probably having taken a tumble and ending up in the trashcan. So Duane and I raised our daughters with only two magi coming to worship the newborn Jesus.
     Then this year when we set up the scene, a third wiseman suddenly showed up next to the other two. No one in our family wants to admit being in on the conspiracy to bring in the third amigo, but I have my suspicions. And I know this is a legitimate wiseman because he comes from the East; the tag under his feet says he’s from China, so perhaps he took a slow boat to get here.
     Or maybe he’s like some of us, a little slow to come worship the Christ child. But he and I have discovered it’s never too late to get in on the party.

How to Avoid the Dump

12/4/2019

You’d think I’d learn not to stand directly under a tree when I shake heavy snow off limbs. But no, I position myself under the branches and end up getting dumped upon. Something similar happens to me if I’m not careful when others unload their burdens on me. All their misery dumps like heavy snow. So when I’m helping others shake loose their woes, I try to remind myself to come alongside and not stand directly under their angst. Otherwise, they walk away relieved, while I’m burdened and look like Frosty the Snowgirl.

My Old Friend Took a Tumble

11/25/2019

My old friend Terry took a tumble that left all of us - including him - speechless. Terry was like a big brother to me when we were teenagers, an affable guy always quick with words. Three years ahead of me in school, he pursued a degree in journalism, and when I reached the same college, I did, too.
     I was shocked when I heard Terry tripped down a flight of stairs and suffered a traumatic brain injury. After four hours of surgery, he struggled to communicate. He had trouble finding his words.    What did Terry want to say?
     If this had happened to me, what would I want to say?
     What would I wish I had said to those around me before I no longer could?    Over time, Terry’s speech has improved. And because of his fall, I’ve thought about how easy it is for me to speak with others. With little thought and just a few words, I can build them up or tear them down. This has prompted me to want to say simple, but important, things to them like:
     “Thank you.”
     “You’re great.”
     “You’re valuable.”
     “I love you.”
     I’ve already contacted two people I hadn’t spoken with for decades, and our communication was rich. Now I’m thinking that perhaps around the Thanksgiving table we can tell each person how much they mean to each other.
  That might leave us speechless.

Mr. Rogers, Make Believe & My Family

11/18/2019

It seems like only yesterday that our girls lived in Mr. Rogers’ land of make believe, and now Tom Hanks is portraying the TV icon in a movie. Mr. Rogers was a hero in our household. I remember when our youngest was just two and her emotions exploded. She stomped upstairs, stood on the landing, and announced, “I hate everybody! I even hate Mr. Rogers!” She marched into her bedroom and slammed the door.
      She quickly emerged with shame on her face and a whisper in her voice. “I didn’t mean what I said about Mr. Rogers.” She couldn’t hate the man who embodied good. Then she retreated to her bedroom to sort out what to do with all the mad she felt toward the rest of us.
     My daughters have blossomed into strong women. I like them just the way they are as they face life’s realities while keeping their rich imaginations. Mr. Rogers has left his land of make believe, passing into the perfect realm he always envisioned. He was disillusioned near the end of his life. Even with his powerful message of kindness, the world had grown worse. I think that’s because we need something more than good attitudes and good intentions. We need new hearts, what the historic Jesus described as being “born again.”
  That’s because beautiful as it is, make believe isn’t enough.