Saturday, January 3, 2026
Tenth Day of Christmas
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Library walls
His anointing teaches you about everything
 and is true and not false.
 Just as it taught you, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence.
Austin has a new award-winning six-story downtown Central Library. From its balconies and through its wide windows the vista includes skyscrapers, a power plant, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Below you can see statues of Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn and O Henry. The Colorado River winds its way below the library, and beyond the river Barton Springs Pool beckons strong swimmers even in January with its year-round 68-degree clear, fresh water.
This library won awards from the American Library Association and the American Institute of Architects. The Austin Public Library system includes 21 other branches, but this central library is exceptional. We love to go there to sit and read. Show lights, gardens, mesquite tile, white oak floors, a red grackle wall pendulum, and thousands of books surround us. On one wall a single sign reminds me of my own fond goal to “Keep Austin Weird,” although it’s more accurate these days that we’ll “Keep Austin Wired.”
In the children’s section many families and toddlers, singled out and loved to pieces by parents and grandparents and special friends, look at books. Whether we’re here or at the Spicewood Springs branch near our homes, we’ll check some out. Miles and Jasper know exactly how to do that. It won’t take long for them to teach Finn. And the three boys can learn about everything at libraries like this.
Whether what they learn is true or not, well, that’s up for grabs. Flash headline from the internet: 40% of what you read on the internet is false. Is that flash true … or false?
My friend Walter once posted a review of The Rise of Christian History on Goodreads. He pointed out that the only sources used by the author for medieval history were Gibbon and Voltaire, neither of whom have ever been known for their expertise in medieval history.
The book is riddled with bias and error.
We all want to know the truth. But we look for truth in all kinds of wrong places. I am grateful to return to the words of John: “His anointing teaches you about everything, it is true and not false.” Like you, perhaps, I recently contributed to the annual Wikipedia fund drive, which is a bargain at almost any price. But there is no anointing on its contributors. What I learn there does not imbue me with confidence for the day of Christ’s appearing.
And that’s what I want most of all, for Miles, Jasper and Finn. And for Aki and Andi, for Margaret and me. And for all those other parents and toddlers at Austin Central Library.
We want to learn to love you, Jesus. Your brow is clear and unwrinkled by uncertainty. Your eyes brim with intelligence. You are the smartest man who ever lived. You share your anointing with us, and your wisdom, and your love. The awards you have won cover every wall.
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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