Bonus Carol: The First Noel

The First Noel...first two verses:

The First Noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds

in fields as they lay;

In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the east beyond them far,

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night.

We sometimes miss the more controversial or scandalous parts of Christmas.  Exhibit A is that God's grand entrance plan is in a barn?!  In the immortal words of Timone from The Lion King, "Talk about your fixer uppers!"  I am from Iowa, I don't enjoy barns...might be one of many reasons I am no longer there.  Exhibit B is that guest list for witnessing this holy interruption are shepherds, who were seen as shiftless.  To follow a star might be Exhibit C.  Imagine telling a friend that you are going to follow this amazingly bright star to some undisclosed location...they might ask, "How are you feeling?"  

Yet, we often nod when we hear these details in church, rather than raising an eye brow and exclaiming, "What in the name of all that is holy?!"

But that is part of the point...God's ways don't always make sense, but they do make a difference.  God's ways don't always go with the flow, but they teach us the flow of God.  God's ways (like parting seas and calling to people of questionable character and confounding us) are perhaps the most beautiful Carol of them all.  I pray that you will continue to listen to the music of God in your life.  Continue to be open to God's wisdom which may sound odd and peculiar but is certainly holy.  Continue to hold lightly onto the truths we have encountered, for they still have much to teach us every day in  2018.

Grace and peace ~~