Today, December 6, was wonderfully festive in our family when I was a child. St Nicholas Day — unpretentious, simple, even spare! Unlike Christmas, St Nicholas Day always caught my siblings and me by surprise, off guard!!! Why our young minds never anticipated the annual surprise is part of its mystery, magic and special joy.
In our shoes or near the foot of our bed, we’d awaken to a small bag typically containing an apple, an orange, a few pieces of candy, some peanuts (in the shell) and either a pair of socks, gloves or something else distinguished by its inexpensive practicality!
Here is a “prayer” that perfectly captures the values and meaning we were encouraged to take to heart by the unpretentious, simple and spare custom…
St. Nicholas, protector of the poor,
Gift-giver, wonderworker, patron saint,
Renew our generosity,
And pour afresh on us your spirit without stint,
That we, like you, might notice, might respond
And rescue those whom we’ve ignored,
Whose plight cries out for our redress:
Near neighbors bound by poverty and debt,
The out of sight and out of mind,
The children of the poor, all the exploited,
Those whose lives are wrecked
By others’ greed, indifference, and neglect,
Those overboard and floundering for the shore.
Help us make others merry with our wealth
And joy, like you, in doing good by stealth.
—Malcolm Guite
Here’s what greeted me this morning. The mystery and magic endures. But, what have we done to Santa Claus?
Kneading Bread 
I’m using this comment section as a way to ask you if you would be willing to give me spiritual direction.
My name is Jon Spayde, and I went through RCIA with you and Sister Josetta at St. Luke’s (as it then was) in 2000. I have many fond memories of the way you and she led the group–I was expecting, I suppose, a sort of class on “Catholic rules,” and instead you created a loving community.
I’m a point in my life at which I realize that I need one-on-one help to come closer to Christ, deal with my doubts, and keep turning my stony heart into a fleshy one. If you are still offering direction, I would hope that we could talk about it some time soon.
Thank you and many blessings,
Jon
The best contact for me is email: jonspayde@comcast.net
Jon, first, Hello! It’s good to hear from you. Thank you for your very kind comments about our St Luke’s community. Those years and relations remain very special to me.
Second, it’s been eleven months since you reach out to me and I apologize for just getting back to you now. I posted very little duty 2024 and 2025 and rarely even opened the site. Your post went unread until the week between Christmas and New Years. I certainly was not ignoring you.
By now I hope and presume you have fulfilled your desire for spiritual direction. The questions and issues you mention are certainly worth exploring. They all sound grace-filled.
A handful of people continue to come for spiritual direction. Now, 75 y/o, my days a full of many things that engage my time and interest. Travel is a high priority. In fact, Russ and I have been wintering in Tucson the last four years from January 1 thru March 31. My availability to meet (in person) is compromised by this and direction presumes availability to the directee.
If you’d still like to talk you can text me at 651-343-5877 or email me at burbach816@gmail.com. I wish you all the best.
Richard