Sometimes a messenger has a sacred task: telling of God’s love; sometimes they have a secular task: carrying documents or other items from one business to another. Both risk, willingly or not, long-term or short, being responsible for that message and it’s delivery. There are consequences.

Isaiah 52:7 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” How can I be the messenger of “good news, peace and good tidings”? In this Advent season, how can I get excited about the incarnation of our Savior and spread that anticipation to others? The true Christmas spirit of kindness, giving, caring, loving can do so much at this time of year especially for those for whom it is maybe not be a joyful time. What can we do?

Years ago when I was a Canon in the Diocese of South Dakota, I was honored by my Lakota friends who gave me one of their ancestors names, “Winyan Hanska”. They gave other gifts too, including 2 red tail hawk feathers. I was told that the red tail hawk would companion me on my life’s journey. Since then hawks have become my messengers. The sighting of hawks, by myself and my family members, always seems to message us in some way. I was given the hawk symbol due to their keen vision and thanked for my spiritual visioning.