Once again, not what it’s about. But the analogy stormed in. When we order Chinese, Steve always gets some. And the name of it always intrigued me. Because how can it be both? And yet, he assures me that it is.
And Christmas hits us in much the same way – exciting yet painful, sweet yet mournful, peaceful but stressful. Every year I live in anticipation of the season. Labor Day promises fall, which delivers the holidays. Then I get into it and I begin to remember the painful parts. And sometimes I’m even ready for it to be finished before it can get rolling.
I remember being twelve or thirteen and a powerful sadness settling over my Christmas. No, it had nothing to do with Santa – that was much earlier. It had to do with a realization that there were no real surprises left. Oh I could, and would, receive many wonderful gifts. But I think I had come to the understanding that stuff didn’t cut it, that there was really nothing I could receive that would bring lasting happiness.
I was a believer then, had been since I was a little girl and my faith was important to me. So I knew that I had the one thing in my life, Jesus, that would get me though anything. Perhaps it was that I now knew that Christmas was indeed meant to be lived thoughout the entire year and I also knew that it could not and would not be.
The irony for any woman who buys gifts, decorates, and bakes is that there will never be enough time to do it all and still sit for hours with friends and loved ones watching the Hallmark channel and munching home-baked cookies and candy. (Probably just as well.) Childhood tricks us. As children, we yearn for the day. And beginning two or three weeks in advance of the 25th, time slows to molasses. We believe it will never come.
Then we grow up and remember that feeling. And we want it back so we can fill it with made-for-tv Christmas movies and Kodak moments with family. I used to talk to my mom about my frustration and she would say, “Christmas is just a day.” And I would mentally call her Scrooge. Yet I have never known a less Scrooge-like person. She truly comes to mind when I read about the widow’s gift (Mark 12:42-44). She had so little; yet everything she received passed through her hands to someone else.
As I get older, I realize what she meant. Certainly, she intended the obvious that we need to practice our faith daily, year-round. But more than that, there is only so much cooking and celebrating we can do, can even tolerate, before it’s time to celebrate the day. And usually that season before comes with a mixture of nostalgia, excitement, pain of loss, loneliness, and joy. And once again, my Father understands exactly how I feel.
On that night so long ago, heaven must have surely been a place of mixed emotions. The angels must have experienced sadness as they bid farewell to their precious Jesus. Our Father probably felt great pride and joy as His Son left the glory of a throne, prepared to step into the skin of a tiny, defenseless baby. Yet He must also have grieved as the plan was set in motion to save us all by His ultimate death on a cross.
A strange Christmas greeting to you, I know. But I guess the message is, whatever you are going through as you read this, know that your Lord has felt it, understands it and feels it with you. Have a peaceful, joy-filled Merry Christmas!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Shepherds Watch
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:8-20
He awoke with a start. His scalp prickled the way it sometimes did when a wild animal lurked just outside the pen. He sat up quickly and rolled up the cloak on which he had laid his head. As he crept to the closest rock, he peered around the sheep pen and then remembered to let out his breath, aware that he had been holding it in. The sheep slept. The other shepherds leaned in toward the fire, laughing as they shared stories. All was well. As he strolled over to join the group, he chuckled as he rehearsed a tale he would share.
Without warning, a brilliant light pierced the darkness and a voice surrounded the shepherds and the sheep. He dropped to the ground and covered his head with his arms. The voice sounded like none he had ever heard; it was spellbinding, terrifying and yet reassuring and gentle. He trembled as he listened. The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. The boy dared to look into this kind face that hovered just above the young men as he reached out his arms to them. He shared the joyful news of a Savior, born just that day in a small village nearby and wrapped in rags, sleeping where the animals were.
At once the sky was filled with angels brighter than the midday sun. Their song gave glory to God and peace to men because of His favor. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate so he could remember the sound. They sang as hundreds, but sounded as only one voice. They sang a sweet harmony but he could not hear the individual parts. He opened his eyes once again to see the glory and they were gone just as suddenly as the first one had appeared.
The shepherds sat wordless for several minutes. No one was willing to mention what he had just seen. Had the others seen it as well? Then as they began to look at one another; they shared a look of wonder and peace and excitement.
“Let’s go now! Let’s go find this Savior, this newly born baby. Who will stay with the sheep?” He and those whose watch was not due for a few hours set off through the darkness, feeling their way through the rocky landscape with their staffs. The darkness seemed even more intense because of the brightness of a few moments before. He traveled without speaking, trying to decide how his life might change as a result of this night, yet knowing it already had.
As they struggled up a rise that overlooked the small town of Bethlehem, he caught his breath and held it long for the second time that night. There in the sky a star shone with the same brilliance that he had seen when the angels came. He stopped and clinched his fists in trepidation. He knew that this baby must be someone powerful if the announcement of his birth was made in such a way. What right had he to impose himself in the birth celebration? He knew how he looked and smelled and he didn’t feel right about it somehow. Yet he sensed that his feet would keep moving one in front of the other no matter if he tried to stop them.
The light from the star made their journey down the incline a little easier and they followed the sounds of the animals in the stables set apart from the living quarters. As they approached the open door, a young woman looked up at them and smiled. She nodded at them as they crept forward to see the baby whom the angels said would change the world. His vision blurred as tears burned his eyes and he looked first at the peaceful mother and then the child. His feelings of inadequacy melted away and he knew that when he next laid his head on his cloak to sleep, he would rest in joy and peace.
Luke 2:8-20
He awoke with a start. His scalp prickled the way it sometimes did when a wild animal lurked just outside the pen. He sat up quickly and rolled up the cloak on which he had laid his head. As he crept to the closest rock, he peered around the sheep pen and then remembered to let out his breath, aware that he had been holding it in. The sheep slept. The other shepherds leaned in toward the fire, laughing as they shared stories. All was well. As he strolled over to join the group, he chuckled as he rehearsed a tale he would share.
Without warning, a brilliant light pierced the darkness and a voice surrounded the shepherds and the sheep. He dropped to the ground and covered his head with his arms. The voice sounded like none he had ever heard; it was spellbinding, terrifying and yet reassuring and gentle. He trembled as he listened. The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. The boy dared to look into this kind face that hovered just above the young men as he reached out his arms to them. He shared the joyful news of a Savior, born just that day in a small village nearby and wrapped in rags, sleeping where the animals were.
At once the sky was filled with angels brighter than the midday sun. Their song gave glory to God and peace to men because of His favor. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate so he could remember the sound. They sang as hundreds, but sounded as only one voice. They sang a sweet harmony but he could not hear the individual parts. He opened his eyes once again to see the glory and they were gone just as suddenly as the first one had appeared.
The shepherds sat wordless for several minutes. No one was willing to mention what he had just seen. Had the others seen it as well? Then as they began to look at one another; they shared a look of wonder and peace and excitement.
“Let’s go now! Let’s go find this Savior, this newly born baby. Who will stay with the sheep?” He and those whose watch was not due for a few hours set off through the darkness, feeling their way through the rocky landscape with their staffs. The darkness seemed even more intense because of the brightness of a few moments before. He traveled without speaking, trying to decide how his life might change as a result of this night, yet knowing it already had.
As they struggled up a rise that overlooked the small town of Bethlehem, he caught his breath and held it long for the second time that night. There in the sky a star shone with the same brilliance that he had seen when the angels came. He stopped and clinched his fists in trepidation. He knew that this baby must be someone powerful if the announcement of his birth was made in such a way. What right had he to impose himself in the birth celebration? He knew how he looked and smelled and he didn’t feel right about it somehow. Yet he sensed that his feet would keep moving one in front of the other no matter if he tried to stop them.
The light from the star made their journey down the incline a little easier and they followed the sounds of the animals in the stables set apart from the living quarters. As they approached the open door, a young woman looked up at them and smiled. She nodded at them as they crept forward to see the baby whom the angels said would change the world. His vision blurred as tears burned his eyes and he looked first at the peaceful mother and then the child. His feelings of inadequacy melted away and he knew that when he next laid his head on his cloak to sleep, he would rest in joy and peace.
Monday, December 6, 2010
It's Coming
I hear the wind chimes today – a little louder, more insistent and more constant. Their sweet tones take me to a place and time to come, fuzzy and almost unimaginable, yet very sure and real.
I am outside in my garden listening to the wind and the chimes. I work because my Father works, but today I am playing. I plant and enjoy my surroundings. The colors, the ones I used to know, are vivid and bright. The new ones dance in the heads of the flowers and on the wings of the birds.
I put my hand into the soil, rich, brown and warm, and feel for roots and rocks. As I pull it back, a roly poly bug and a fat spider sit on the back of my wrist. I smile at them, unafraid, and gently put them back into the cleared earth.
As I hear a muffled sound in the bushes, I look up to see a deer, soft, brown eyes twinkling at me. As she approaches, my coonhound – oh that it would be the same one – runs up to her to sniff curiously. She doesn’t run; she doesn’t even flinch. The dog licks her brown nose and she shakes her head. She moves over to let me give her a soft pat or two.
I hear a door close and someone calls out my new name. Smiling I get up and dust myself off. There stands my best friend, come to take me who knows where, to explore and discover this new earth of ours. I give him a hug and smile into his dark eyes, remembering the love and years and thanking God that we feel so strong and healthy.
It’s coming. I will be home. And it’s true and real.
Revelation 21:1, 3
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
I am outside in my garden listening to the wind and the chimes. I work because my Father works, but today I am playing. I plant and enjoy my surroundings. The colors, the ones I used to know, are vivid and bright. The new ones dance in the heads of the flowers and on the wings of the birds.
I put my hand into the soil, rich, brown and warm, and feel for roots and rocks. As I pull it back, a roly poly bug and a fat spider sit on the back of my wrist. I smile at them, unafraid, and gently put them back into the cleared earth.
As I hear a muffled sound in the bushes, I look up to see a deer, soft, brown eyes twinkling at me. As she approaches, my coonhound – oh that it would be the same one – runs up to her to sniff curiously. She doesn’t run; she doesn’t even flinch. The dog licks her brown nose and she shakes her head. She moves over to let me give her a soft pat or two.
I hear a door close and someone calls out my new name. Smiling I get up and dust myself off. There stands my best friend, come to take me who knows where, to explore and discover this new earth of ours. I give him a hug and smile into his dark eyes, remembering the love and years and thanking God that we feel so strong and healthy.
It’s coming. I will be home. And it’s true and real.
Revelation 21:1, 3
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
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