By: Pastor David Grousnick

I consider it divine good fortune that we have a scripture lesson, John 2:1-11 so early in the year which encourages us to ponder a miracle. We need to become more sensitive to the possibility of miracles. Such a sensitivity will help us recognize present miracles, which we either do not see or which we take for granted.

And it will prepare us to receive still more miracles.

Walt Whitman felt that “each part and tag” of his own person was a miracle, and that “a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels.” He reminded us that we are surrounded by the glorious and the miraculous and do not know it.

Science ought to have increased our sense of awe, as it has unfolded the marvels of the heavens above and mysteries of our bodies within. But we take the attitude that if we know how far it is to a given planet, we have, therefore, encompassed all its significance.

We need to know that God is at work in our world. The affairs of this world, and of our individual lives, often seem to be out of control. At such times we can be reassured by the knowledge that God has worked wonderfully in days past, and that he is still at work.

So, I direct our attention to a story from the Gospel of John, generally referred to as Jesus’ first miracle. I am impressed that this miracle came to pass, not in the confines of a place of worship, nor even in a uniquely religions occasion but where people were celebrating one of the happy social events of our common life – a wedding.

The Jews attached great importance to the high moments of life. Thus, a wedding was not just a brief ceremony, but an experience shared by the entire community.

The typical wedding feast could last up to seven days. That sounds strange to our modern way of thinking, but this offered a bright interlude in an otherwise dreary existence.

The ceremony would begin on Tuesday at midnight. After the wedding the father of the bride would take his daughter to every house so that everyone might congratulate her. It was a community experience. Weddings were a time of joy.

Years ago, when Johnny Carson was the host of The Tonight Show he interviewed an eight-year-old boy. The young man was asked to appear because he had rescued two friends in a coalmine outside his hometown in West Virginia.

As Johnny questioned the boy, it became apparent that the young man was a Christian. So, Johnny asked him if he attended Sunday school.

When the boy said he did Johnny asked, “What are you learning in Sunday school?”

“Last week,” came his reply, “our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine.” The audience roared, but Johnny tried to keep a straight face.

Then he said, “And what did you learn from that story?” The boy squirmed in his chair. It was apparent he hadn’t thought about this. But then he lifted up his face and said, “If you’re going to have a wedding, make sure you invite Jesus!”

The little boy was on to something. Weddings are times of joy and symbols.

At the wedding, which Jesus attended in Cana of Galilee, there was great joy but a problem developed. There was a shortage of wine. Not only was that a social embarrassment, it was also a symbol. For a wedding to run out of wine was an omen that there was little chance of this particular marriage reaching its full potential, maybe joy was not meant for this couple.

Joy and symbols.

There was once an article in Reader’s Digest by a man named Patrick Cooney titled, “Why I Wear Two Wedding Bands.” Cooney had worn two wedding bands for more than a dozen years. When he’s asked about them, he responds, “I have two wives.” He’s kidding, of course.

One day a stranger would not let him off with this glib answer about why he wears two bands. So, Cooney spilled the whole story.

He explained his father died in 1999. As they were saying their final farewells at his funeral, his mother, who had been married to his father for 50-plus years, removed his father’s wedding band and handed it to Patrick. Surprised, he placed the gold band on his left middle finger, next to his wedding band. There it has remained.

He told the stranger that he wears his father’s wedding band to honor his father and his parents’ marriage. He also wears it to remind himself to be the son, brother, husband, and dad that his father wanted him to be. He is now 60 years old and has been married for 30 years.

The stranger walked away, then turned back and said, “Sir, you know, I have my father’s wedding band in my sock drawer at home, and beginning today, I am going to start wearing it.”

Powerful story. But isn’t it true of all our relationships? It’s important not only to be faithful and attentive to our spouse, but to our children or our parents and our friends.

I can tell you right now, without any hesitation at all, that it is God’s will for us to take care of our relationships.

David Grousnick, is the Pastor at the First Christian Church in Artesia.

By Richard Coltharp
El Rito Media

SALT FLAT, Texas – Being at Guadalupe Peak feels like you’re on top of the world.

But you’re only on top of Texas.

Yeah, I know. Some people think it’s the same thing.

The peak at Guadalupe Mountains National Park is 8,751 feet above sea level, the highest point in all of Texas. The park itself is barely in Texas, sitting just below the New Mexico state line, about 26 miles southwest of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and 191 miles southeast of White Sands National Park. It’s much closer to White Sands as the raven flies. But while ravens, hawks and other birds can make the flight, commercial aircraft and your personal vehicle cannot fly as the raven due to the restricted space of White Sands Missile Range.

The isolation of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, however, is part of its appeal.

The dominant feature of the mountains is El Capitan, which rises breathtakingly out of the Chihuahuan Desert, visible for miles.

Trail travails

There are 20 different hiking trails of widely varying difficulties to experience the breadth of the park, which was established in 1972.

But it was the hike to the peak that drew me to Guadalupe the morning of New Year’s Eve.

It seemed like a great way to ring in 2025.

I knew the 8.4-mile Guadalupe Peak Trail would be tough, long and tall, but as someone who walks a mile or two daily and hikes the desert mountains around Las Cruces two or three times a week, I wasn’t too worried.

On the trail, though, something interesting started happening a mile or two in: People started passing me. Some at only a slightly quicker pace. Some much faster.

Then I realized the difference. Most people were using hiking poles.

That had to be the only reason they were out-hiking me.

It could not have anything to do with the fact they were, on average, 35 years younger than me.

Could it?

Perhaps, more specifically, it was because their knees were so much younger than mine.

Quickly though, my fragile ego was distracted by the incredible views and terrain on the trail. Mile by mile, you’ll see different rocks, dirt, trees and mountains.

The day we went was perfect. Much better than New Year’s Eve three years ago, when we attempted the same ascent, only to be forced down by relentless rain.

Weather is a huge consideration on this hike, and a reason winter is generally a good time to do it.

The summer can be unbearably hot. Spring can be unbearably windy. Fall and winter are generally better, but beware of how quickly the weather can change. And how different the conditions are throughout the hike. The peak itself is almost always windy, sometimes dangerously so.

A key piece of the weather is the sun.

Make sure you protect yourself from the sun, but also take note of when the sun will be out.

When I went, Dec. 31, was one of the shortest days of the year.

And our relatively late start (10:37 a.m.) meant we hiked the last mile in the dark.

To quote an AllTrails reviewer, “Hiking in the dark sucks.”

That is true, no matter how good your head lamp or iPhone light.

During the hike, we met people from all over: California, Austin, Ireland, Sweden, Dallas.

Everyone was in a good mood and helpful. Although one person we met about a mile below the summit was completely inaccurate when he said, “The hardest part’s behind you.”

Important data

Since I learned about this hike years ago, I’ve been trying to learn the answer to the big question: How long is the round-trip hike?

Answers have been as varying as the terrain on the route itself.

A recent answer, from a couple I know who hiked it in October, was six hours.

That was my working benchmark. A real-world, real result from someone I know. If they could do it in six hours, so could I. (I forgot to factor in they are 25 years young than me.)

As we were hiking up, a young lady coming down said she’d made it to the top in two-and-a-half hours. OK, that’s about a five-hour round trip. Maybe too quick for me, but six is still realistic. (I ignored the fact she said she was 25; I’m 61.)

We had also scoffed at the park ranger’s estimate it would take us eight hours for the round trip.

Near the end of the hike, we also scoffed at the published mileage estimates of the round trip, which were typically 8.1 or 8.4 miles. Our smart watches, and those of a few fellow hikers, counted the trip at more than 10 miles.

The hike also gains more than 3,000 feet in elevation from the trailhead. And it gains those feet steeply in most cases. The steepness is more noticeable on the way down, at least for my knees. And extra tricky in the dark.

In the end, our scoffs at the ranger were justified.

We indeed completed the hike in less than eight hours. Seven hours and 58 minutes, to be exact.

The thought occurred to consider hikes to other states’ highest peaks.

New Mexico’s Wheeler Peak, not far from Taos and Red River, is 13,167 feet. Humphreys Peak in northern Arizona is 12,633 feet. Kings Peak in Utah is 13,528 feet.

So, next year, for New Year’s Eve, we’ll be hiking Woodall Mountain, the highest peak in Mississippi.

Woodall Mountain is just an hour away from Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo, which will make a nice side trip.

Oh, how tall is Woodall Mountain?

It checks in at a lofty 806 feet.

El Rito Media

The first month of the year is special for a number of reasons, including the opportunity for a fresh start, as millions of people make New Year’s resolutions in an effort to turn the page on the previous year.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is nestled in the middle of January and is another day of contemplation and celebration. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American Baptist minister, activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and one of the most prominent leaders of the civil rights movement. His leadership was fundamental throughout the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King promoted nonviolent tactics that included the March on Washington in 1963.

The third Monday of January (Jan. 20 this year) is widely celebrated as Martin Luther King Jr. Day (or MLK Day) and is a federal holiday to honor the life and legacy of this great man. The day presents an opportunity to celebrate and honor Dr. King in notable ways.

Here are some of the many ways to celebrate Dr. King and serve in his name.

• Give what you can. Donate money or goods to a nearby charitable organization. This can include donating to a food pantry or dropping off clothing at a homeless shelter.

• Donate time. Dr. King’s legacy is a testament to cooperation. When people work together and support one another, the world becomes a better place for future generations. Volunteering time at a local nonprofit organization is a start.

• Watch the “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. King was a skilled orator, and this speech is about 17 minutes long. Many people know of this speech but may not have listened to it in its entirety, nor have fully absorbed its message. MLK Day is an ideal time to listen to the speech from start to finish.

• Promote equality initiatives. Racism, segregation and inequality remain a problem even today. Use MLK Day as a catalyst for change aimed at promoting equality among all people.

• Spearhead mixers and other friendly socials. Dr. King espoused a message of kindness and respect for others. By bringing people together from different backgrounds, individuals can learn that they likely have more in common than they realize. Host special social gatherings that can take place on or around MLK Day.

• Plant a tree or another enduring symbol. A Greek proverb says, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” It means that planting trees represents actions that will benefit future generations, even if the person planting them will not live long enough to reap the benefits. Dr. King facilitated greater racial harmony and peace even though he was not able to enjoy it more fully. Planting a tree in his name will benefit future generations.

• Learn more about Dr. King. Visit a cultural center that is offering a special MLK Day exhibit; otherwise, read biographies or watch a movie about his life and work.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a celebration of a man who did great things that continue to benefit generations of people who came after him.