Chad's spot for various thoughts, musings, poetry, ideas and whatnot

Monday, December 25, 2006

Christ is Born! Come, let us Adore Him!

As I write this, my family has just finished its Christmas Eve gathering where we exchange gifts and share a meal together. There was a lot of laughter, great big smiles and much love. Gifts were exchanged and shown off for all to appreciate and the adults had a good time enjoying (and being amazed at) the antics of the kids. As I think about it I realize how I have been truly blessed by God through my family.

I realize that for many, Christmas is not this way. For some this a time where family is missed or regretted. For others who have lost loved ones it is a time of grief and sorrow. Still others suffer the sharp pangs of hunger and deprivation and want even though they may live in the richest country in the world. Then there are those who bear the burden of anxiety over bills and money and there are those who wrestle with envy and jealously over what they didn't receive because they count what they have lost.

I pray that your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are like mine and filled with joy and hope and love. I ask you this night and this next day to pray for those who are less fortunate.

Most of all, pray that you remember what this day represents: God has become man on this day so that maybe we might become God. Recently I was introduced to a story first told by the early church father Athanasius through Brian McLaren's book, "a Generous Orthodoxy." While I usually try to leave the stories of the early church fathers to Gary because he tells them so much better than I do, I hope that you and he won't mind if I share this one as told by Dr. McLaren.

"Once upon a time there was a good and kind King who had a very great kingdom with many cities. In one distant city, some people took advantage of the freedom the King gave them and started doing evil. They profited from their evil and began to fear that the King would interfere and throw them in jail. Eventually these rebels seethed with hatred for the King. They convinced the city that everyone would be better off without the King, and the city declared its independance from the kingdom.

But soon, with everyone doing whatever they wanted, disorder reigned in the city. There was violence, hatred, lying, oppression, murder, rape, slavery and fear. The King thought, 'What do I do? If I take my army and conquer the city by force, the people will fight against me, and I'll have to kill many of them, and the rest will only submit through fear or intimidation and hate me and all I stand for even more. How does that really help them--to either be dead or imprisoned or secretly seething with rage? But if I leave them alone, they'll destroy each other, and it breaks my heart to think of the pain they're causing or experiencing.'

So the King did something very surprising. He took off His robes and dressed in the rags of a homeless wanderer. Incognito, He entered the city and began living in a vacant lot near a garbage dump. He took up a trade--fixing broken pottery and futrniture. Whenever people came to Him, His kindness and goodness and fairness and respect were so striking that they would linger just to be in His presence. They would tell Him their fears and questions and ask His advice. He told them that the rebels had fooled them, and that the true King had a better way to live, which he exemplified and taught. One by one, then two by two, and then by the hundreds, people began to have confidence in Him and live in His way.

Their influence spread to others, and the movement grew and grew until the whole city regretted its rebellion and wanted to return to the kingdom again. But, ashamed of their horrible mistake, they were afraid to approach the King, believing that He would destroy them for their rebellion. But the King-in-disguise told them the Good News: He Himself was the King, and He loved them. He held nothing against them, and He welcomed them back into His kingdom, having accomplished by a gentle, subtle presence what never could have been accomplished through brute force." (a Generous Othrodoxy, pp. 64-65)

Tonight we celebrate the coming of the King dressed as a homeless wanderer. Tonight we celebrate God's coming into this world as Jesus so that He might bring a fallen and rebellious world back into Himself. If there was ever to be a night for hope and joy, I can think of no better one than this.

Peace on Earth and Good Will to All Humankind!

In Him,

Chad

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