Friday, December 24, 2004
The Spirit of Christmas Presence
"Father, you know what's coming."
"Yes, I do."
The three look at each other. There is nothing else.
"And you also know."
"Yes, my father."
"Then go ahead, my son, and know always, even at that dark moment, that I
love you."
Jesus raised his arms. He became radiant, and he sang the light into being.
He sang stars, water, worlds, land. The song became plants, and then
animals. Then he reached even deeper into himself and sang people into the
new world. Finally, at the right moment, the one appointed, he sang
Immanuel and he, son of the Most High God, maker of everything around him,
became a human baby.
"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9::2-7 NIV)
For the one who did this, one more tattered and tired human being running
through the split veil to wrap his arms around the Living God is no more
burden. He knew who would come, he knew the problems, the tears, the
fantastic tail-chasing thrash as human mind tries to figure out Godly
principles.
He knew also the star-dislodging joy of a human heart fully engaged in the
process of living, and he was willing to donate his lionish heart to anyone
willing to give it a try. He knew what it would take to bring a fallen
human being back into life, he knew he would be at the sharp end when
things went south. He spoke the word and became God with us.
We don't even celebrate his birth on the right day. The institutional
church, in the first of many attempts to prove its uniqueness by co-opting
extant holidays, moved the day so that it would be more convenient for
church purposes.
It doesn't matter. God made time as a convenience for us. His son is
eternally Immanuel and gave his live up once for all. Christmas and Easter,
abstract concepts, take place every day in the real world because we need
his grace every day. Every second. Come close, feel the gentle lion heart
beating with strength to transform one person, one world, and take courage
to face another day in a dark dangerous place.
They, all three of them, know what they're about. Never tame, but good.
2004 December 24
"Yes, I do."
The three look at each other. There is nothing else.
"And you also know."
"Yes, my father."
"Then go ahead, my son, and know always, even at that dark moment, that I
love you."
Jesus raised his arms. He became radiant, and he sang the light into being.
He sang stars, water, worlds, land. The song became plants, and then
animals. Then he reached even deeper into himself and sang people into the
new world. Finally, at the right moment, the one appointed, he sang
Immanuel and he, son of the Most High God, maker of everything around him,
became a human baby.
"The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9::2-7 NIV)
For the one who did this, one more tattered and tired human being running
through the split veil to wrap his arms around the Living God is no more
burden. He knew who would come, he knew the problems, the tears, the
fantastic tail-chasing thrash as human mind tries to figure out Godly
principles.
He knew also the star-dislodging joy of a human heart fully engaged in the
process of living, and he was willing to donate his lionish heart to anyone
willing to give it a try. He knew what it would take to bring a fallen
human being back into life, he knew he would be at the sharp end when
things went south. He spoke the word and became God with us.
We don't even celebrate his birth on the right day. The institutional
church, in the first of many attempts to prove its uniqueness by co-opting
extant holidays, moved the day so that it would be more convenient for
church purposes.
It doesn't matter. God made time as a convenience for us. His son is
eternally Immanuel and gave his live up once for all. Christmas and Easter,
abstract concepts, take place every day in the real world because we need
his grace every day. Every second. Come close, feel the gentle lion heart
beating with strength to transform one person, one world, and take courage
to face another day in a dark dangerous place.
They, all three of them, know what they're about. Never tame, but good.
2004 December 24
# posted by Larry @ 06:28 
