i wonder as i wander
carolslightsbellsornamentstreesdecorationschildrencryinghonkinghornsthe
santaclausestoriescookieselvesfireplacememoriescrazyshoppersmallsyule
tidelogsmaxedoutcreditstockingschimmneythenightbeofrechristmaswrap
pingpresentsopeningchristmasmorninghamturkeyfruitcakefeasts
STOP. shhhhhhhh. stop. even if just for a minute.
today two people honked at me on my home. i don't know why. well, a possible explanation is my lack of any motor ability. but i tend to think that its the hurried-rushed-i-might-kill-someone-soon attitude that people seem to fall into this time of year. today, as i reflected on christmas and what it means and how incredible it is and what a state of humble thankfulness we should find ourselves in . . . and it made cry for those who are missing it completely.
imagine . . . a man. a man who discovers his soon-to-be wife is pregnant. and its not his child. instead of quietly ending the engagement (and even that is a noble decision at that time), he is told to marry her. so against his better judgment, he marries the girl, yet still he's denied his basic rights as her husband. can you possibly even begin to comprehend the questions in his mind? "God, what is going on here? this woman is with child and she claims it's Your Son; can that be? why me? pick another man. i just wanted a regular life. lots of kids running around in my shop. loving Mary every single moment of every single day. worshipping You in the synagogue. i never imagined You'd live in my house, eat the food I'd provide and well, be my son. and frankly, i'm not sure i'm ready or equipped. so please, if its possible, choose someone else. i'm just not cut out for this."
imagine . . . a woman. well, a gawky teenage girl is more accurate. a young woman with childhood fantasies that consisted of nothing more than a quaint home on a quiet street; a house filled with love and warmth and laughter; a man who would provide for her and her family. instead, she's just been given the news that she will give birth to God Himself. WHAT?! she and joseph only sneaked one kiss! what's he going to think? who will ever believe her story? she'll be an outcast, ridiculed by her friends and rejected from her family. she too has questions for the Almighty. "The angel was great and seemed to speak the truth and all that . . . but You must be joking. the thought of getting married is frightening enough; now You want me to have a baby? Your Son? Joseph is never gonna go for this. I'm not old enough to drive, let along give birth to the Messiah. You should pick someone else. Sarah is great with kids. Or Elizabeth. Or Rebekah. anyone else. i love You and i want to trust You, but this is just plain crazy."
imagine . . . a child. a perfect beautiful healthy tiny baby boy. born in the midst of smelly sheep and even stinkier shepherds. a baby who will cry and nurse and laugh and smile and be everything a child should be. perhaps Jesus couldn't think as a newborn. but if perchancehe could, i think His prayer might go something like this . . . "Dad, I know they're confused. mom looks freaked out. papa looks scared to death. and frankly, the shepherds look lost. but someday they'll understand. give them the courage to understand. to accept Your plan without question. i know it can be confusing, bewildering, and at times, almost unfathomable. but its perfect. You were right. this is the only way to save them. the best way."
a man, a young woman, and a tiny baby. all part of this incredible miracle that we've commercialized and franchised and humanized. somewhere in the midst of presents and parties and carols and cookies, we have to come back to the place where we remember.
it's a gift. it's a miracle. and its far more incredible than anything we'll find under the tree.
merry christmas. and may God bless us, everyone.
santaclausestoriescookieselvesfireplacememoriescrazyshoppersmallsyule
tidelogsmaxedoutcreditstockingschimmneythenightbeofrechristmaswrap
pingpresentsopeningchristmasmorninghamturkeyfruitcakefeasts
STOP. shhhhhhhh. stop. even if just for a minute.
today two people honked at me on my home. i don't know why. well, a possible explanation is my lack of any motor ability. but i tend to think that its the hurried-rushed-i-might-kill-someone-soon attitude that people seem to fall into this time of year. today, as i reflected on christmas and what it means and how incredible it is and what a state of humble thankfulness we should find ourselves in . . . and it made cry for those who are missing it completely.
imagine . . . a man. a man who discovers his soon-to-be wife is pregnant. and its not his child. instead of quietly ending the engagement (and even that is a noble decision at that time), he is told to marry her. so against his better judgment, he marries the girl, yet still he's denied his basic rights as her husband. can you possibly even begin to comprehend the questions in his mind? "God, what is going on here? this woman is with child and she claims it's Your Son; can that be? why me? pick another man. i just wanted a regular life. lots of kids running around in my shop. loving Mary every single moment of every single day. worshipping You in the synagogue. i never imagined You'd live in my house, eat the food I'd provide and well, be my son. and frankly, i'm not sure i'm ready or equipped. so please, if its possible, choose someone else. i'm just not cut out for this."
imagine . . . a woman. well, a gawky teenage girl is more accurate. a young woman with childhood fantasies that consisted of nothing more than a quaint home on a quiet street; a house filled with love and warmth and laughter; a man who would provide for her and her family. instead, she's just been given the news that she will give birth to God Himself. WHAT?! she and joseph only sneaked one kiss! what's he going to think? who will ever believe her story? she'll be an outcast, ridiculed by her friends and rejected from her family. she too has questions for the Almighty. "The angel was great and seemed to speak the truth and all that . . . but You must be joking. the thought of getting married is frightening enough; now You want me to have a baby? Your Son? Joseph is never gonna go for this. I'm not old enough to drive, let along give birth to the Messiah. You should pick someone else. Sarah is great with kids. Or Elizabeth. Or Rebekah. anyone else. i love You and i want to trust You, but this is just plain crazy."
imagine . . . a child. a perfect beautiful healthy tiny baby boy. born in the midst of smelly sheep and even stinkier shepherds. a baby who will cry and nurse and laugh and smile and be everything a child should be. perhaps Jesus couldn't think as a newborn. but if perchancehe could, i think His prayer might go something like this . . . "Dad, I know they're confused. mom looks freaked out. papa looks scared to death. and frankly, the shepherds look lost. but someday they'll understand. give them the courage to understand. to accept Your plan without question. i know it can be confusing, bewildering, and at times, almost unfathomable. but its perfect. You were right. this is the only way to save them. the best way."
a man, a young woman, and a tiny baby. all part of this incredible miracle that we've commercialized and franchised and humanized. somewhere in the midst of presents and parties and carols and cookies, we have to come back to the place where we remember.
it's a gift. it's a miracle. and its far more incredible than anything we'll find under the tree.
merry christmas. and may God bless us, everyone.
posted by monica at 7:33 PM
4 Comments:
hey pal...beauteous post. you're beateous too. i miss seeing you in the bathroom every morning. tell the rents merry christmas :-) love you
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Thank you Monica. Thank you!
monica... thanks to facebook, i've found your blog. :) it is fun to read. thanks for all of your posting. -leslie
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