One of my favorite authors is a British gent named Terry Pratchett. He has a long-running series set in a place called Discworld, which is technically fantasy but is at least as accurately labeled as satire.

One of his books, “Hogfather,” is set around this time of the year and deals with the beliefs surrounding “the Hogfather,” or what we would call Father Christmas, Santa Claus, or similar names. It was made into a movie a few years ago, and was done quite well, but the book (as usual) is better. We watched the movie last week, and I just finished re-reading the book.

There is one particular conversation towards the end, between Death and his granddaughter Susan, that always makes me sit back and think.
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Gakked from RadarRider:

Two years ago yesterday, Ronald Reagan died. The Patriot Post had several quotes by him or related to him today in honor of the anniversary of his passing. One in particular I thought was worth repeating.

"And I hope that someday your children and grandchildren will tell of the time that a certain president came to town at the end of a long journey and asked their parents and grandparents to join him in setting America on the course to the new millennium—and that a century of peace, prosperity, opportunity, and hope followed. So, if I could ask you just one last time: Tomorrow, when mountains greet the dawn, would you go out there and win one for the Gipper?" —Ronald Reagan

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That's one hell of a challenge. Sadly, it is one that most of us (myself included) have rarely been willing to take on -- to "root-hog-or-die" not for our own benefit in easily-measurable things like our bank accounts, but for intangibles such as the ones listed above, and for everyone instead of just for ourselves.

I like to think that some of the work that I do teaching martial arts helps contribute to these things for my students. I know that I have become a much more peaceful person as a result, and that my optimism levels (hope) are higher as well, and I hope that my students have been able to take these things away with them as well. I don't know that there's been much change on the prosperity or opportunity fronts, but then, no one tool is appropriate for every problem.

Sunrise tomorrow marks the opening of deer hunting season in Mississippi. There is a long-standing tradition among the hunters in our family that for supper Saturday night, we either eat fresh venison... or bologna. (Don't worry, GryphonRhi, that only applies to the *hunters* -- I'm sure that if we're unsuccessful, the rest of you will still get a fine meal ::G::)

If I weren't afraid of jinxing things, I'd mention the number of times we've had to invoke that tradition...

I talked to my father this afternoon, and apparently this nice little cold snap we've just been given has got the deer up and stirring. There've been several spotted in the last few days right around our area.

I love this time of year, and the traditional first-weekend hunt with my family. Honestly, while I like venison, and while there is a certain indescribable pleasure in a successful hunt, the part that is more important to me is just getting to be there. I've always loved the outdoors, and just being able to get away from my job and school and the various day-to-day things that go on in life, and spend time out in the woods enjoying Mother Nature...

I'm firmly convinced that it helps keep me sane.

My grandmother asked my father about it one time, trying to understand why we put in so much work on our stands during the year, then get up so early (well before dawn) and go out into the freezing darkness, and stay until mid-morning... then go back out again that afternoon and stay until dark. I doubt I'll ever forget his 7-word reply: There are no atheists in deer stands.

And I rather suspect he's right.

Words can't describe it, but I'll try.

You start off blanketed in total darkness and silence. The world around you is sleeping soundly.

Then the eastern sky starts to pale gradually, and you get to watch the sun rise, and see and hear the whole world wake up around you. Every creature, from songbirds and squirrels to hawks, foxes, panthers, coyotes -- and deer, of course ::S:: -- starts to wake and begin its daily routine. They announce their presence to the world with various cries, chitters, barks, or grunts, as if affirming their own existence and the fact that they have survived another night and stand ready to face the new day's challenges. Soon, the woods become a cacaphony of sound... but with a subtle harmony woven through the apparent chaos.

I don't see how anyone could possibly experience that and not believe in something bigger than themselves.

I have been in some beautiful churches, and some truly impressive cathedrals. There have been many with exquisite architecture, stained glass windows, and other cunningly crafted works. There have been some with a strong sense of spirituality and the divine, both intrinsic to the place and to the people who worship there.

But if you asked me where to find what I consider to be the truest House of God I have ever encountered, I would point you to my woods at dawn.