Today we begin a journey of Advent leading to Christmas.  We will experience moments together that we expected because we are familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus.  But we also travel this journey with expectation and wonder, because God is always doing something new, and there are moments when we will be surprised.  I have not yet written the posts for the next 27 days.  I am taking this journey a step at a time with you.  It will be a challenge for me to write everyday but I feel led to do this.  I am smiling as I write because I know it will be special, and fun, and filled with a few surprises as God brings moments to share.

We begin with the Annunciation, the Angel comes to tell Mary about the baby.  The photo above is of a picture of the Annunciation which hangs on the wall of the monastery where I stayed in Florence, Italy.  It doesn’t look at all like most of the portrayals of the Annunciation where Mary kneels in awe of the glorious, golden Angel.   Here no one seems to even notice or care that an angel is present.  It takes place at the breakfast table and the dog is asleep.  Mary is wearing flip flops…I love that! She has either dozed off thinking this is a dream, or passed out overwhelmed, or just napping to check out of something she can’t deal with.  Or perhaps she has already said, “Let it be to me as you have said”, and is now filled with an awesome peace.  What do you think?

Now let’s try this one…

This Annunciation is from a children’s book entitled “The Nativity” illustrated by Julie Vivas.  The scene is once again at the breakfast table. The Angel looks like he has had a rough flight.  He was either in a hurry or befuddled over carrying such profound news… he didn’t even get his boots tied.  He looks like a big “little kid”.  He and Mary are having an intense conversation over a cup of coffee.  I am pretty sure she is now saying, “BUT HOW CAN THAT BE???”

The wonder in both of these is that the Angel does come into our everyday world at any moment to bring the message God wants us to hear.  And we, like Mary, are each one called to bring Jesus to the world in some way.

Questions to ponder….

Has an angel come into your everyday world in some way and you knew they brought some word from God?  Where? Who?

How does God want to use you?

nk