CHRISTMAS STORY

Mary and Joseph packed up and prepared for perhaps a week or two away. But they ended up going from Bethlehem to Egypt and left the first part of their life behind. Made me think about the times we leave our house for a short trip, a family gathering, or a vacation not knowing that life would change forever in the next days or weeks. A child comes, a relationship breaks, a doctor gives a diagnosis, the fire destroys a home, a teen rebels and we have to learn to live differently the rest of the way to our eternal home. They didn't know and we don't know......




Mary must have been exhausted, sore and discouraged as they finally found a bed of hay to sleep on. I can imagine her thinking she couldn't wait to get a long nights sleep for perhaps tomorrow they expected to check in for the tax census and wait in line for many hours. But the first labor pains let her know it would not be a night of rest . It would be a long and painful night. Both were tired, both were hoping for more than a bed of hay to welcome their first born, but God knew the story He was writing through their humble hearts. The joy that was set before them in their exhaustion and pain was the delivery of a special baby boy. The baby who would also be asked one day to endure one more thing when he was tired and weary. And the joy that would be set before Him would be our salvation. I can celebrate the joy of His birth when i find a soft bed, at the end of my busy day of Christmas preparations, but can I find joy in the long painful night? What joy is set before me then? It is, as it was for Mary, to behold the face of Jesus. Mary forgot the exhaustion and pain when she looked into his face, just like every mom who looks into the face of their newborn baby. And we will forget this light and momentary affliction when we look into the face of the grown up Jesus for eternity. Joy!




Newborn Jesus felt the cold of the stable, the scratch of the hay and the soft swaddle. His new eyes saw the furrowed brow of father, the loving smile of mother, the animals with whom he shared a bed of hay. He smelled the animal smells, the sweaty robes of shepherds come to see. Baby sensed the tired mommy, the worried father and the awe and wonder of shepherds come to worship a king. Wonderful Counselor would one day give light to the darkness , Prince of Peace would offer hope for peace in the troubled heart and in the cruel Roman world, and Mighty God would show himself more powerful than Ceasars and religious leaders. This baby experiencing humanity so he could one day redeem it all. MERRY GRATEFUL CHRISTMAS FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US!

FRIENDS

                                                                     

  I look at the giggling faces under the long beautiful hair, I see the holey jeaned carefully clad young people and wish that giggle was the umbrella attitude over their young life. That they could laugh at the future and the present .  But I have seen and heard too much of the loneliness and tears, the aching hearts and despairing souls to believe that this is real. I see too much of my  own heart too.  I see the box where they get their white smile,  the many bottles in the shower where they manufacture perfectly textured hair, the bulging cosmetic bags that ensure they never lose the youthful beauty they now possess, and the carefully selected foods that assure the body will not decay too soon.  And I wonder how beautiful, brilliant, kind hearted souls  may come to believe that they may not be loved without all this.  How many could come to believe that in a  multitude of friends only is satisfaction of heart, and a single loyal friend is cause to doubt their lovableness?  Some receive warm fuzzies and suspect cold prickles underlie the kisses and hugs.  For some, the text they did not get, the invite they hoped to receive and the confidence they were left out of , seems the one thing that would have confirmed their worth and proven their relationship.  So each is in the power of the other, hoping to get, afraid to give, looking to prove what they suspect about their value and despairing in their perceived solitude.   A brief unintended look makes them doubt the last word they spoke or laugh they bellowed was appropriate or acceptable.   And instead of giving their beautiful quirky self to others, they endlessly try to conform it and change it to meet the expectations they have invented. And they are never able to confidently meet the ghostly standard.  

    And the few who have not set this snare and fallen into it,  stand out and hold a light that, it seems, no one sees.  They are not surrounded by the followers or conformed to the false standards and so are free to give and walk away and be content with their best friend, their human skin and teeth, and the styles that suit them.  Casual friendship is okay, without wondering why they are not the "bestie" and attributing it to their frail imperfect humanity.  

    Jesus looks on each heart and laughs at the perfect hair and white teeth and young skin because he sees the invaluable treasure they each are .   He knows that outwardly he too was scarred and unbecoming,  without loyal friends, but became the treasured relationship to so many.  He sees the brevity of their days and wonders why it seems an eternity to them.  He sees the quirky imperfections as beautiful gifts to be given to each other and grieves the missing pieces their conformity  takes from His family.  And He longs for them to feel and know the depth of his love and acceptance filling their heart when others can not or will not.  For He knows that then they could give without needing and love without constant disappointment.  He loves them, heart and soul  and imperfect flesh and longs for them to love the same way.  The giggle is intended to display a steadfast heart that blankets their relationships beginning with the One that matters.  May their outward beauty be but  a thin umbrella braced with sure faith  and a knowledge of His steadfast love that covers their soul.

Create in us a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.
Psalm 51:10  paraphrase mine

                                                       SUPER HERO

     I see the wrong, and feel the sting of false accusation, the despair of the captive hearts of those I love , or watch the children suffer as the ads for places of healing for the tiny ones roll across my screen and i think myself a super hero.  I cry out to God and say,  "Where are you?", "It's not fair!" and "Sic em, God."  The frustration of seeing the messed up, twisted, painful realities of our world makes me want to dictate the timing, administer the justice and take revenge on the attacker.  And that is my own ugly twisted heart sinning along side. 

        Mine is the call to encourage and give aid to the suffering but His is the super hero power to change a heart. His is the decision to provide the justice here or in the after.  His is the choice to perfect through the sting instead of always through the blessing of peace.  His is the power to make it happen, for He is the super hero and I am his servant.  But still I rail and stuff bitterness and doubt His presence.   That makes me the super hero who judges the end from the beginning as I fly over time and space.  I feign to know the timing and the nature of just reward while directing mental heat rays at those I judge.  And I imagine I see the need of every heart with my x-ray vision.  Super-me tells God what He should be doing and then creates kryptonite gemstones of bitterness, skepticism and sinful doubt to ensnare my own heart. I can not see Him work it out my way,  and so I doubt His care and presence and surrender my post.   My super powers overwhelm me with weakness and I lose hope and even compassion for those whose sin I do not see equal to my own. 

     But then I finally go into my phone booth of prayer and scripture and am temporarily transformed into frail human leaning on Him for my strength, my perception changed by His truth.  And I come out of my booth ready to trust again and ready to see them as myself, in need of loosened bonds, corrected vision, compassionate care and grace.  And I can remain the servant who leaves the final word and healing to Him, but still ministers the ointment in word and deed as He leads.  And the sadness and anger stay in their divinely designed place of motivator to serve Him and them,  and  to clean up my own contribution to this dark side of His world.  This balance of powerful servant and powerless heart mender mixes me up and brings me down without the recharging power of His word to reset and restore.  And I sing "Be thou my vision...." with renewed vigor amidst my world, our world , of sin and sun and saints.   One day my vision will be constant and clear and no need for a energizing booth, for He will be my vision without webs of self and sin to mar my window.  And He my only hero.

 

                                               Why do you complain, Jacob?
                       Why do you say, Israel,
                                        “My way is hidden from the Lord;
                    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
                                                                                  Do you not know?
                         Have you not heard?
                                  The Lord is the everlasting God,
                    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
                                    He will not grow tired or weary,
                  and his understanding no one can fathom.
                                                                      He gives strength to the weary
                    and increases the power of the weak.
                                                                                      Even youths grow tired and weary,
                      and young men stumble and fall;
                                                                      but those who hope in the Lord
                   will renew their strength.  Is. 40:27-31