Most of my memories of Christmas Eve include a marathon afternoon and evening filled with several worship services.  I loved every minute!  It began with a Children’s Family Worship and concluded with Midnight Candlelight.  What I loved most about the late worship was the singing of “Silent Night”, blowing out the candles, and then experiencing the first breath of Christmas Day together singing “Joy to the World”.

The emphasis here is not only the joy that the Christ Child brings, but also that this joy is for the entire WORLD.  “God so loved the world that he gave his Son that the world might be saved!” ( John 3:16)

Recently I ran across this photo and story on Facebook…

In “About the Name”, Official Ubuntu Documentation, the word is defined as a “belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.”  To me it seems to incorporate Paul’s writing about the body of Christ together…“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (I Corinthians 12:26).

This morning in worship, the message was about JOY.  The pastor asked us to quickly turn to someone we did not know and share our greatest memory of experiencing joy.  I turned to the young mother sitting next to me and asked about her moment.  After a long pause and a blank stare, she said, “I can’t remember any joy.”  I tried to encourage a little, gently, but nothing changed for her.  Again she said, “I don’t remember having joy.”  I felt so sad.  I said, “I hope this Christmas brings you joy.”  She responded, “I hope so too.”

The pastor went on with the message.  I could not stop thinking about this young woman beside me.  As the worship service came to a close, the children’s choir sang, “Are you ready for the light to shine upon you?”.   Then we all joined hands, singing together, “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love…” .  As we were leaving, I gave her a piece of paper with my name and phone number.  I told her I would be praying for her. All the way home I thought about UBUNTU.  I saw in my mind the photo of the children.  She is in my circle.  She is in my heart.  I thought about the body of Christ.  I heard in my heart the words of Jesus, “My joy will be in you, and your joy will be full” (John 15:11).

Come! Lord Jesus, Come!!  I want my friend to experience JOY this Christmas!

nk

Pondering…

Is there anyone you might help bring into the circle of  JOY?

 

In Luke 2:1-5 and Matthew 2:6 we read that prophecy was fulfilled with the Christ Child  being born in Bethlehem.  Mary and Joseph had to venture from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  Into the Judean hills they set forth to travel long days, night skies, danger among those hills.  The birth was to take place in another place.

Mary and Joseph were being “set apart” to be used by God for something very special.  There needed to be a time of preparation, a journey into the wilderness alone with God.  Their lives were being transformed.  Their journey, led by God, was to make them ready for new birth.

Three years ago I felt God might be calling me to retire from a full time appointment to a church.  I hadn’t planned it.  I wasn’t sure it was the time.  Yet I understood the stirrings of being called to something else.  I went away for a week into the “wilderness” by myself to pray and listen to God.  During that time I wrote lots in my journal.  Here are a few notes…each new paragraph is an excerpt from a new day in the wilderness.

I love the simplicity of the wilderness.  Trying to make a fire…wish I had paid more attention along the way…like in Girl Scouts or something!  Finally, I got it!  Ah, the intimacy of tending a fire.  It is good.  It is my companion right now.  Don’t want it to ever go out.  I remember a note from my friend and her wish for me, “I hope your new time is one to dance.”

My writing continued..

I am surrounded by darkness as if in a cocoon.  But I am not afraid.  I am safe, secure, being HELD.  I feel like I am unwinding at 90 miles per minute.  How could silence be this invigorating?  It’s just You and me here God.  Nothing else.  No one else, but Your creation.

I feel like I am starting over with my life.  I don’t know what it looks like.  I don’t know what it’s supposed to look like.  What would make me dance?  It can only come as a GIFT.  Right now I don’t even want to move.  “Be still and know that I am God”.

Which road leads to finding myself?  again? anew?  I can’t figure it out.  I don’t want to.  I want  You to reveal it to me.  I need  Your WORD?  Help me listen!

Listening is so slow and hard.  Am I not working at it?  I thought I wasn’t supposed to work at it.  I don’t know what to do!  “Do nothing.”  Well, it seems that is what I am doing.  When are  You going to bring my answer?  

It’s a beautiful day…cold, but sunny this morning.  I feel Your PEACE streaming in through the window in that sunshine.  Here I sit, outside in my big fluffy bathrobe and my boots.  In the wilderness one becomes real, and knows that God is God in the beauty of creation.  

I ended my wilderness journey with the four Haiku writings I had just completed in my 4 week Advent Journey…( a Haiku consists of the first line- 5 syllables, second line- 7 syllables, third line- 5 syllables.

I wonder what happened for Mary and Joseph on their passage to Bethlehem.

nk

Pondering…

What questions do you have for God?

If you’d like, try writing a Haiku.

In the Bible, book of Matthew, chapter one, verses 18-25, we find the story of Joseph.  He was to be married to Mary, but learns that she is pregnant.  The “just” thing to do, according to the religious law in his time,  would be to have her stoned out in the streets!  But Joseph, being a “just” man (verse 19) did not want to put her to shame and was going to divorce her quietly.  Then he had a dream in which the Angel said, “Don’t be afraid!”.  Joseph was to take Mary for his wife.  She was conceived by the Holy Spirit  and will bear a son.  “Call his name Jesus.  He will save his people from their sin.”

Here are some artist’s images of the dream…

This is the earliest painting, located in Florence, Italy, artist unknown and from the 10th century b.c.  The Angel is shot down from heaven like a lightning bolt and Joseph appears to be knocked out cold, perhaps even dead in his coffin.  Well, those very early Christians probably understood best how devasting this news would have been for Joseph!

( from “My Son, My Savior” by Calvin Miller, illustrated by Ron DiCianni)

It seems here that the young teen Angel is sent on his first tough mission.  He is whispering, trying to break this news gently, but Joseph is in real pain over hearing it, grasping his pillow tightly.  NO, it can’t be true!

(from “The Story of Christmas” by Felix Hoffman)

Here the Angel is doing her best to get Joseph to open at least one peeper and pay attention to the news.  Joseph seems to be at peace, but out like a light!

I love this one from “Voices of Christmas” by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Eric Velasquez.  In the text is the voice of Joseph who has awakened from his dream saying,  ” I awake, certain as sky that I’ve had more than a dream.  I wait for this mighty mystery to unfold.  For now, this one thing I know:  I am ready now to do whatever Jehovah tells me to.”

Yes!  Joseph has been called!  And as crazy and uncertain as any call can be, the one certain thing is that you have to do what God is calling you to do.  You can do nothing less.  Step out and trust that God will see you through.

(from “Mary’s First Christmas” by Walter Wangerin Jr., illustrated by Timothy Ladwig)

nk

Pondering…

Can dreams  be real?

What does it feel like to follow the call of God?

 

In the Bible, book of Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38, the angel Gabriel comes to Mary to announce to her that she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and will bear a son.  The child will be holy – the Son of God.  Let’s explore what that scene might have looked like through various artists who through the ages have depicted that moment…

The angel came to a city called Nazareth to a Virgin named Mary betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph….just a simple normal everyday household.  They are occupied and not at all in tune with what is about to happen. How did the angel get in?   Boy, are they in for a surprise!!

( 15th century, Merode Altarpiece, Robert Campin, Flemish painter)

The Angel appears and says ,”Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”  Mary realizes this is not normal talk and is greatly troubled…what’s up??

(“The Story of Christmas” by Felix Hoffmann)

Mary is now in total shock.  The angel says,” Don’t be afraid!  You will conceive and bear a son and call him Jesus”.  Mary is in a trance.  It is just more than she can handle!

Mary knows she is a virgin, so…”How can this be?”  The angel says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.  This child will be holy”.  The dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit,  is present above Mary in this painting.  Mary is holding her breasts as if she has an awareness something is happening to her body.  Is this the holy moment?

(“Annunciation” by Fra Angelico, 1430 )

The Gospel of Luke proclaims that nothing will be impossible with God. (Verse 37) It seems here that the angel and Mary have dramatically rehearsed their regal response. Notice their hands reaching out, almost touching.  I am reminded of Michaelangelo’s painting in the Sistene Chapel of the finger of God almost touching his creation of man.  Holy Moment!

Mary now says, “I am a servant of the Lord!  Let it be!!”  It’s almost like these two have now made a deal. There is this knowing look between them.  The angel is giving the sign of peace and Mary is giving the “high five”!

(Anonymous, Psalter, Venice, 1270-1280)

“Mary did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? ?..This child that you delivered will soon deliver you?  Mary did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?  Mary did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation? …Did you know the  sleeping child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.”  (lyrics by Mark Lowry)

Mary did you know?

nk

Pondering…

Which painting do you like?

Imagine how young Mary was, her fears, her faith.

( Photos I took in Yellowstone National Park.  Painting was hanging on the wall of a centuries-old church in Dubrovnik, Croatia, artist unknown )

nk

Pondering…

Read the poem again and let a word or phrase speak to you.  Sit with it a bit.  Write something about it as a prayer or reflection.

The Advent Journey is our time of moving toward experiencing once again the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.  We anticipate, long for, expect, wait, and prepare for the coming of our Savior.  Someone said that the only sin for which we cannot be forgiven is the belief that we do not need a Savior.

 

I love this home in a small beautiful African village which proclaims over the doorpost that “Jesus is my Savior”.

One Christmas a few years ago my grandchildren were helping me arrange the nativity that is portrayed on my mantel every year during Advent.  The figures are special to me because my Aunt Dot made them.  And Baby Jesus is quite special because I found him in Italy.  The figure of Baby Jesus is fragile, so I had prepared the children to carry him gently.  “Don’t drop him!”  Callie, age 4, carefully picked up Baby Jesus, put on my reading glasses, and cradling him in her arms began to sing spontaneously.  I quickly grabbed my phone and captured the moment!

I will never forget how very precious was that moment!  (Click on the arrow to hear Callie sing).  Then, as she proceeded to place Baby Jesus back into the manger, he fell out of her arms onto the tile floor.  His head broke off at the neck!  I reacted quite passionately, of course!  Callie felt so bad.  Fighting back the tears, her little voice trembling, she said, “Grammy, can I go lay down on my bed?” Suddenly I realized…the entire essence of the Christ Child was before us.  He came to be our Savior….giving his life…broken so that we might be saved from our sin!  I felt a peace come over me which I needed and wanted to convey to my grandchildren.  THIS, perhaps, was the forever teaching moment.  I explained that Jesus came to be our Savior.  THIS baby is the Christ Child. He loves you! You are forgiven!

So now each year, I place the nativity on the altar…

And Baby Jesus has his head super glued back on.  Christ the Savior is born!

nk

Pondering…

Hold in your heart for a moment the Baby Jesus, Savior of the world. Feel his forgiveness.

“Good Evening!”…Wait, it’s morning at home and I haven’t slept a wink!  City of Zegreb…hummm…I need to learn to pronounce that correctly…

Six of us sat around a small rectangular table with a crisp white tablecloth set for dining in a lovely hotel.  We were strangers, soon to become friends.  On this night we began together our journey of Croatia.  We had all been traveling long distances, now dog tired.  Yet our droopy eyes were propped open wide with wonder at all the newness around us.  The anticipation of an unknown adventure welled up inside us as we tried to eat our meal.  The pastry chef suddenly stood next to me at the head of the table announcing her prestigious dessert.  She seemed all puffed up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy in her white flour baker’s outfit, hat included. Rightfully so!  The dessert was delicious!

The conversation meandered around until I found myself talking about a trip to Italy I had made with my sister.  “Our Aunt Dot was in the Red Cross during the war.  As a young woman, she was stationed in various towns in Italy.  After she died we found her small Red Cross lapel pin and a silver compact….you know, they used to keep face powder in those.  Engraved on the compact were the names of those towns in Italy.  We decided to travel “in the footsteps of Aunt Dot”.

John sat across from me that evening at the other end of the table.  He leaned in towards me and said, “I had an experience with the Red Cross!”….Oh?…”I was a child in a slave labor camp in Germany.  When I was five years old we traveled on a boat to America.  Everyone on the boat was seasick except for me.”  As he spoke, I pictured this little boy peeking over the side of a wildly rocking boat in the ocean, searching a vast horizon all by himself.  He continued, “When we got to America, the Red Cross were the first to welcome us. They gave me a chocolate donut!”  My mind still wondering about the slave labor camp, I asked “What was your earliest memory of life?”   His reply was…..”the chocolate donut”.

It was a profound moment for me.  Who would have thought a chocolate donut might represent freedom!  At the time of the birth of Christ the weary world was searching the horizon for new life.  The people who walked in darkness then saw a great light!  Freedom came as a gift from God.  Who would have thought it would be a baby in a manger!

(from “The Indescribable Gift” by Richard Exley, illustrated by Phil Boatwright).

nk

Pondering…

What is your earliest memory of life?

In what way do you treasure freedom?

 

 

Advent is a journey.  Through God’s grace,  we are being drawn by God like a magnet toward the manger, and the birth of the Christ Child. The journey is transformational as we are being changed along the way by the power of the Holy Spirit alive in us.  Our job is to step out in faith.  I love Maya Angelou’s description of her grandmother who raised her and whom she called “Mamma”. (from her book “Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now”)….

“One of my earliest memories of Mamma is a glimpse of a tall cinnamon-colored woman with a deep, soft voice, standing thousands of feet up in the air on nothing visible.  That incredible vision was a result of what my imagination would do each time Mamma drew herself up to her full six feet, clasped her hands behind her back, looked up into a distant sky, and said, ‘I will step out on the word of God.’…She would look up as if she could will herself into the heavens…it wasn’t difficult for me to have faith.  I grew up knowing that the word of God had power.”

I recently discovered a small bag which my grandchildren had packed during their recent visit to our home.  They had been playing in my study and the bag contained a few treasures from my bookshelf which they had randomly selected for their make-believe journey.

It was very fun for me to unpack the bag and see what it contained.  Clearly the first item was the treasure of Travis, age three…

Then there were a selection of books…

The first book on the tongue is pretty clear.  “More Misery” gives challenging life situations from the perspective a child, good insight for any trip.  The Bible in Spanish is a great choice for traveling in Texas. “Postcards” is a collection of letters from God  based on scriptures in the Bible.  Here is one of the letters…

Wow!  These items inadvertently chosen by small children who could not yet read, spoke volumes! I had to smile.  I wonder what you and I might choose to take on our journey to the manger.  There is a song we might sing along the way…

“I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus…..I want to see the brightness of God, I want to look at Jesus…..I’m looking for the coming of Christ, I want to be with Jesus…”  And the Angels said,  “Come and see!”.

Ah….steppin’ out…..

nk

Pondering…

What would it take for you to “step out” on the journey?

What might you take with you?