The air is crisp...biting my cheeks, turning my breath to a soft mist of white. My eyes dance around the streets...lights twinkle as the sun hovers low in the sky at a young hour of the day. I trip and trudge through the once powdery snow, now dense as the days pass, the sun warms and pollution eats away mixed with dirt and salt and no doubt the heat and struggle of my fighting heart. As each year and each Christmas passes and my days on this earth count backwards...never adding...but running away from me, counting down as an hour glass, I can't help but reflect...and long for more for what time remains.
The harsh cold of this world is reflected in the dropping mercury, deep freezing any warmth in this thrumming beat of the rhythm of life. Somewhere in these dark streets, these dark days I can hear the voice of truth...whispering my name. A still small voice. As still and as small as the Christmas babe...asleep, lulled by the gentle heave of His mama's breath on a night as cold and as dark as this one. Where, just like my story, nothing seemed certain...where everything seemed strange...where an inhabitant from the heavenly realm took up space and time in a dark and cold place. But in that still and small space...a heavenly pocket of time...the ticking second hand seems to slow, my heart-hurt eases and I live in THIS very moment. There is no worry, no ache or hurry in THIS...it's only when I step outside of right now that it's hard to track down hope, peace, joy, Emmanuel...God with us.
Even Christ Himself became small...humble to take in and reflect the light of His Father. The rush and spin of this season...of this life...can make any light hard to absorb and peace hard to grasp. But it's all my spirit really longs for....because it was created for more...more than ribbon tied packages or liquid-steamy sweetness...more than the familiar winter chorus' ringing through the streets...more than twinkling trees fragrant of pine...more than friendly company and mistletoe hung high. These are the icing of life, meant to accent... enhance... compliment a solid foundation. They can't be truly enjoyed...embraced...until a heart and spirit is fed with soul food...the Bread of Life (John 6:35)...the Light of the World (John 8:12)...found in a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes (Luke 2:12)...found in a blood stained splintered cross...found in the One who seeks your heart and meets you right where you are. Even in the bitter cold and dark days...you can be filled with HOPE...with PEACE...with JOY...with CHRIST. A gift that never fades...never goes out of style...never loses relevance...lasts forever.
Won't you invite Him to fill all the dark corners this Christmas?
Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(see pictures at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/98938523037726300/ http://www.pinterest.com/pin/98938523037726297/)
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