The warm bagel Christmas
In 1987 our financial world collapsed. Plunging oil prices had pulled Texas real estate down with it. Banks, backed by big oil, were failing. My husband, Bud’s, real commercial estate/insurance business came to a screeching halt. Although my university job was secure, even administrators didn’t make that much. Rather than ride to economic ruin as we headed into middle age, I accepted a department chair position at a university in Los Angeles and Bud salvaged what he could from his business and we moved.
Los Angeles suited us well, but the early going was rough. We faced the first ever holidays away from our family and budgeted for a small celebration for the two of us. Yet rather than setting us back on our emotional heels, the move energized us into new thinking. We had high hopes for our new life, albeit with little money. Several nights before Christmas we visited a local mall just to look around. After a bit, we spied an open-air stand and splurged on a warm, soft bagel and two coffees. Amongst the lights, scents, sounds, and tastes, we spent one of the most magical nights of our lives.
This reflection was written by Karen Kaigler-Walker. She is an author and speaker on Christian women’s spirituality. Learn more here. She is also a friend of Retreat House Spirituality Center.