Merry "Christ-mess"
Last night, during our Christmas Eve candlelight service, we held our candles high and sang Silent Night.
It was beautiful.
There were no instruments, no intelligent lighting, no fanfare...just the simplicity of our voices in unity, singing a cappella. It was so pure and so peaceful. Everything was right in the world at that moment. A crowd of people of different colors, different ages, different classes—all lifting our voices to worship God. We all set our messy problems and differences aside for a moment to worship our King. Peace overwhelmed me and tears filled my eyes as I soaked in that moment.
All was calm.
All was bright.
I began to think of Mary, how she must have felt in that moment on that Holy night. There was so much uncertainty and difficulty leading up to Jesus' birth. She had to hide her pregnancy for fear of scandal, she had to travel away from home, pregnant on a donkey, for the census—that alone makes me feel for her! When they arrived, there was no room for them in any of the inns. She had to give birth in a barn! No hospital, no doctors, no nurses or fancy machines—just a stinky, old manger. It was messy, dirty, humble and a less-than-ideal place to birth a child; let alone the Son of God.
But He came.
In the midst of the mess, He came.
In simplicity, He came.
And in that moment, in the middle of a uncertain, messy situation, the Son of God came into this world.
I'm sure Mary had doubts and fears and questions in her heart about this whole situation. What would her future hold? What would His future hold? How would she raise the Son of God? She pondered all these things in her heart. But in the middle of doubt and uncertainty, the Prince of Peace had come. It wasn't what we expected...but it was still perfect.
Simple. Unexpected.
Perfect.
This Christmas and through the New Year, I want to welcome Christ into my mess. To celebrate in the midst of my messy, un-figured-out life. To learn to enjoy the simple seconds of time where—if just for a moment—everything is right. Sure, there are messes around us (literally and figuratively), sure, I'm uncertain about things in my future, sure, there will be mountains to climb...but the Prince of Peace is here, living in me, and I will welcome Him into my mess and live in this moment.
I will choose to celebrate in the midst of messes. To dance in the rain. To laugh in uncertainty. Because I know the Prince of Peace is here; living in a messy, uncertain, imperfect me.
Merry Christmas, everyone. From my lovely, messy life to yours...Peace.
It was beautiful.
There were no instruments, no intelligent lighting, no fanfare...just the simplicity of our voices in unity, singing a cappella. It was so pure and so peaceful. Everything was right in the world at that moment. A crowd of people of different colors, different ages, different classes—all lifting our voices to worship God. We all set our messy problems and differences aside for a moment to worship our King. Peace overwhelmed me and tears filled my eyes as I soaked in that moment.
All was calm.
All was bright.
I began to think of Mary, how she must have felt in that moment on that Holy night. There was so much uncertainty and difficulty leading up to Jesus' birth. She had to hide her pregnancy for fear of scandal, she had to travel away from home, pregnant on a donkey, for the census—that alone makes me feel for her! When they arrived, there was no room for them in any of the inns. She had to give birth in a barn! No hospital, no doctors, no nurses or fancy machines—just a stinky, old manger. It was messy, dirty, humble and a less-than-ideal place to birth a child; let alone the Son of God.
But He came.
In the midst of the mess, He came.
In simplicity, He came.
And in that moment, in the middle of a uncertain, messy situation, the Son of God came into this world.
I'm sure Mary had doubts and fears and questions in her heart about this whole situation. What would her future hold? What would His future hold? How would she raise the Son of God? She pondered all these things in her heart. But in the middle of doubt and uncertainty, the Prince of Peace had come. It wasn't what we expected...but it was still perfect.
Simple. Unexpected.
Perfect.
This Christmas and through the New Year, I want to welcome Christ into my mess. To celebrate in the midst of my messy, un-figured-out life. To learn to enjoy the simple seconds of time where—if just for a moment—everything is right. Sure, there are messes around us (literally and figuratively), sure, I'm uncertain about things in my future, sure, there will be mountains to climb...but the Prince of Peace is here, living in me, and I will welcome Him into my mess and live in this moment.
I will choose to celebrate in the midst of messes. To dance in the rain. To laugh in uncertainty. Because I know the Prince of Peace is here; living in a messy, uncertain, imperfect me.
Merry Christmas, everyone. From my lovely, messy life to yours...Peace.
