I love the Advent season. I love the richness of what it brings, how it slows me down a bit and how it teaches us to wait, wait in anticipation for what is to come. Incarnation. Emmanuel. God with us. With Christmas day upon us, we light the center candle, the "Christ" candle that highlights that the Spirit of the Lord is upon the Christ, the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11).With the imagery that Christ's birth brings, I am once again reminded of one of my favorite themes of God's work, something that is woven throughout Scripture, but historically and theologically: reversals. He did not choose a strong man or a royal stage for His Son to enter into the world, He chose a baby and a manager as a symbol of God's love for humankind. This is a humble beginning, an ordinary setting for an extraordinary Savior. May this remind us not to dismiss the mundane experiences and moments that populate our lives. A day of small things should not be dismissed because great things rise from the humble and mundane moments of life. Life itself is made by these moments.
Christmas day is sacred, set apart in its meaning, but my prayer is that we don't isolate this Christmas season in its meaning. Our celebration should not end tomorrow night or next week; any ordinary day of the year is an opportunity to celebrate God's presence amidst the "every day" of our lives. Emmanuel. God with us.
Merry Christmas.
1 comment:
perhaps a better christmas blog than mine :) good stuff, Krystel! i thought a lot over christmas about the humble and ordinary (if not impoverished) beginnings of Jesus' life...what an exciting and interesting choice God made! So good talking to you...it appears i may after all be returning to seattle soon!
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