Saturday, December 10, 2016

Peace part three



I question how silent that first Christmas was?  I've been there when a new baby cries, unable in any other way to communicate.  I question how peaceful that first night of Jesus life was?  Interrupted by knocks at the door by shepherds and wise ones who didn't even think to bring a tuna casserole.  I question if all the words we sing are more about us than recording history.  We long for hope to dance in eyes, peace to still our souls, love to be embodied and joy to be shared.  We long for angels harking and sheep softly sighing.  We long for a cuddly Christmas.

But maybe the truth is messier than we can imagine.  A child crying finds peace in the embrace of a mother tenderly and timidly holding that infant.  A child longing find hope in parents willing to be there day-after-day.  A child searching for love is reassured in those moment when the deepest, widest meaning of unconditional is experienced as you help with homework and make them eat the green beans.  A child who searches for joy can find even that in the smallest insect crawling in the dirt that awakens laughter.

But such is true not only for children but for adults too.  Perhaps more.  But our rational and reasonable minds echo the words of Scrooge.  Hum bug.  Hum bug to timidness, the world shouts.  Hum bug to the slow steady presence.  To those poetry and music...and even beauty?  Maybe one day we might discover that the promise of Christmas is about more than a historical moment.  Christmas is about God with us and for us that can't be packed away and stored in the attic.  Why would we?  We need that truth every day in the coming year.  Perhaps it is the one promise that can help us find peace.

May the candle of peace continue to guide your way to God's grand entrance upon earth this Christmas.

Blessings ~~

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