There are some years that are more richer than poorer, that are more joyful than sorrowful, that are filled with more happiness than pain. This hasn't been one of those years for me.
I have felt more alone than connected, I have been more sorrowful than joyful, and I have felt poorer than richer many days. This has defiantly changed who I am during this holiday season. I have seen myself pull away from many things, including Christ at many parts during this past year.
My advent reflections did not go as planned this year. I wanted to really dive deep into the gospels and see if I could find a new revelation this year; that didn't happen. Today I was chatting with B, and it hit me how amazing this whole thing was!
Think about the wise men. These guys traveled for weeks, months, or maybe even years to find the Christ child. They brought with them the most precious gifts of their lands. If we take this forward into our culture of 2009 (almost 2010), what does that look like. Its like getting some of the wisest Senators and MP's together, sending them out with some of the most precious things our nation produces, and finding some kid in the slums of Africa after following a light in the sky for who knows how long.
How can you think this is wise! I guess it just blows my mind that someone would be willing to obey God that blindly.
Or what about Joseph. He is engaged to this beautiful women (at the very least she was attractive in some way to him) and out of the blue she gets knocked up ... and you know it wasn't you. Can you imagine going into the Gallelee Carpenters Union 9924 and telling the guys that " .. my fiancee is knocked up .."
Year in and year out I have heard this story before opening presents and it sounds so pleasant. Jesus was born in a manger *cue the young girls "awwww'ing"*. It really isn't that cute! I think that over time I have become so comfortable with God being born in this way that I have made it sound almost nostalgic to me. But not this year.
Tomorrow morning when I wake up and we read the Christmas story, I will not be thinking about the gifts that I am giving my parents, or the swag I will be getting, or how nice it was that Jesus was born. I will be considering how Jesus was born in the slummy part of Bethlehem, how hurt must have Joseph been when he first heard that his wife was pregnant - and it not being his, and how wonderful that even though Joseph was human he forgave Mary and loved this child.
May God bring you into a new appreciation of Christs birth this year - in whatever shape or form it comes in.
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