Unusual Wrappings (3)- He's Up To Something

Christmas is a great time for surprises- Surprise visits, surprise gifts, surprise food items encased in Jello- you know the drill. Funny thing is, surprises are actually fragile things. To pull one off you have to act like nothing unusual is happening. Some people are great at this (lying that is), some aren't. When some of us start planning a surprise, you can tell we are definitely up to something. I think God wrapped the Christmas story like He did for the same reason. He wants us to know that He is active, working, moving, present. And we all probably need a reminder now and then.

THE SILENCE OF GOD
Christmas is a time for contact. This month, many of us are getting cards, family pictures, newsletters and emails from folks we haven't heard from in 12 months. 360ish days of silence, and then finally- contact. For some people in our lives, this works out fine. We honestly don't have time (or interest?) in more than a once-a-year update. For others, 12 months of silence would be (and has been) heartbreaking. Ever had to endure a time of silence from God? Ever wondered where He was? Why He wasn't doing something? Why you couldn't hear His voice or sense His presence. Me too- and we aren't alone.

The Bible is full of periods of silence. One of the largest comes just before the Christmas story. For 7 generations from Malachai to Matthew, there is no prophet- no Word from the Lord. God is silent. Jesus' newborn wailing breaks 430 years of silence. Silent Night indeed! Even during a long time of silence, God was still working. He wasn't speaking, but He moving behind the scenes, ensuring that His promises about Jesus' birth would come true. He preserved the family line of MARY. He kept BETHLEHEM intact. Not to mention working out all of the other details.

THE RUT OF THE ORDINARY
Most days aren't Christmas, graduation day, wedding day, or any other special day. Most days are ordinary and routine. Some of us get pretty sick of routine. We ache for something special to happen. Sounds like the Christmas story to me. Mary was in the middle of "just another day" when the angel showed up and redefined her world. Joe was going about his business when he got a heavenly voicemail. The SHEPHERDS were on night watch when the angelic chorus began. The Magi were taking a routine look at the night sky when they saw the Messiah's star. We may be mired in the ordinary. But God's interruption may just be a minute away. When we least expect it, He can puncture the membrane or our daily existence and completely redefine it. (Just ask Mary & Joseph!)

BEYOND OUR FIELD OF VISION
"It's not about you." This simple sentence has been popularized in Christian circles over the last five years. (Thank you Rick Warren.) While that's true and valuable, it isn't the way most of us live. Most of us- me included- focus on life from our point of reference. Most of our energy is spent on our lives, our kids, our jobs, our dreams, our opportunities, our communities, etc. We're self-centered- which can be, but isn't always the same thing as selfish. And while God is at work in us and our worlds- He is working far beyond our frame of reference. The MAGI remind me of this.

Scholars think they showed up at Jesus' house (not barn) when the baby was somewhere between 2 months and 2 years of age. You can bet Mary wasn't expecting them. Then or ever. She was focused on her life, never imagining that God was working to bring these folks from a distant land to worship Jesus. God still does the same thing today. He is working everywhere- in every land and in the life of every person. We don't have to convince God to move. He already is. Instead, we need to listen for His call to join in His work. Like the star for the Magi, God may use US to LIGHT THE WAY for people who are searching. And as we have this privilege, let's keep in mind that journeys- like the Magi's, ours, or our friends- are usually not instant. They take time, like the 2 years the Magi spent on their quest for Jesus. Speed isn't most important. Forward movement is.

WRAPPING IT UP
Right now I'm sitting at Bruegger's Bagels, taking advantage of their free wi-fi to finish this post. It is 1:53 on Christmas Eve afternoon. They're closing in 67 minutes. Employees are scurring to clean up so they can close the doors. They are working, moving, active. Just like God. He may not be as obvious as the good folks at Bruegger's, but He's there. In the silence. In the routine. Beyond our field of vision.

And if you forget, peek at your nativity set- and remember