The Excess vs. The Essential

This evening I watched "The Nativity." It hearkened back to a meditation I had on the awareness of the true meaning of Christmas in our culture today. The United States is inudated with everything unhelpful in reminding you what the season is about. During those days I began humming these lines from a well-loved Christmas hymn:

"No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in."

What does this mean? I've heard it said over and over again that the Christmas season is the most stressful season of the year. Preparatons, preparations, preparations. But what are we really preparing for? What really comes? Why do we cause ourselves so much stress? Could it be that there is a direct parallel to our souls? Does the material reality depict the spiritual reality? It sure seems so.

Receiving Christ, preparing our hearts for His presence should not be a stressful process. It will be however, if we insist on thinking that we must make ourselves presentable in perfection before He comes. I'm sure no cleaning crew existed to ready the manger scene before His birth. He took the humblest abode - one that was ready and willing to receive Him as it lay. I believe God did this to demonstrate an important spiritual principle (among many others).

Human souls respond so similarly to salvation. We fill our lives with abundance of non-sensical priorities, thinking that on this will ride the saviour we have all been looking for. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. In the hearts of those truly quieted from trying to make themselves something they can never be, comes the Saviour that makes them into something they could never have achieved. Christ geared us to receive Him without the busyness of non-essential activities, but in the true sanctuary of the heart - where we can be nothing but ourselves. Anyone can look and see inside that something is not quite right. Then we must admit there is nothing we can do about it. Once this attitude is in place, the "dear Christ enters in" - without a red carpet (we don't have one), and without full knowledge of who He is (there are no limits, Romans 11:33). "Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Hail, the heavn'-born Prince of Peace!"

Back Home

Time to settle in and trust God in bold and unforseen ways. There's a quiet in my house and it can either drive me mad or strengthen my resolve. Thoughts of what I've left continue to tempt me to doubt and struggle to move forward. "It's just so weird! It feels wrong!! Why did I have to leave!? Why did God make me do this?? Is this really the only way?"

It is, and I must wait. I start graduate school mid-Jan. I'll be seeing friends soon. But I am exhausted and trying to get into a routine. Please God, help the absence of the blissful craziness that was 24/7 varsity ministry settle me into a quietness with You! I'm reading a book about William Wilberforce, a "forceful" politician in England over 100 yrs ago. When was his mind trained towards Christ? When his theology was cemented in the quiet discipline of his heart. I want to walk in that obedience now - ready to obey, ready to step out in the way I always somehow have - in this wildly different set of circumstances.

I joyfully made milktart today, but was sorely disappointed at the results - it just didn't taste right. I think it's due to the new altitude and the fact that I used skim milk. Oh well - it wasn't that far off!

The weather has been rainy, dreary, and cold - but i'm looking forward to tomorrow - a trip the art museum (check it out! http://www.philamuseum.org/) to see ancient Christian religious art from the conquest age (think: the movie, "The Mission").

I miss you all in South Africa dearly, it's really difficult, but I am so grateful for each one of you!! This is my prayer for you- Philippians 1:27

Words of Description

Home life: cramped, but grateful

Ministry: frustrating, but new

Walk with God: hectic, but needed

Family: close, and a blessing

Time: stretched and full