God in the middle of the mess with us

I recently asked a kindergartener where God was when she was at school. She told me God was in heaven. I gently reminded her that God was with her at kindergarten. Then, I asked her, “When you go to McDonald’s, where is God then?” She caught on, and said, “McDonalds!”

Advent is the season where we prepare our hearts for God to birth something new in our lives. Advent is also a glorious reminder of Emmanuel, God is with us. And boy, do we need reminding!

Many of us deal with the messiness of life. Some of us are walking through Christmas without that loved one at our side. The loss is painful, and our hearts are empty. Some can hardly participate in Christmas festivities because the income just won’t stretch that far. The pressure from the culture to make Christmas be about presents is strong. Some have received news that just won’t allow any sort of celebration to occur. The weight of their pain is tremendous.

Yet, even as Mary was told of her upcoming parenthood, there had to be some uneasiness. Women who were perceived to be caught in the act of adultery, could face execution by their neighbors and community members volunteering to pelt them to death with stones. And then there was Joseph, who might not have taken the news well, even after his vision ensuring him it was right and good to marry Mary. Joseph, like all of us, have the option to turn away from God, right?

In some ways, Mary’s scenario was a bit of a mess. Mary could very well have had moments of despair, concern or doubt even after her wonderful embrace of being God’s person as she said “yes” to serving God’s purposes in the world. Even as the birth story moves along, circumstances are not perfect and God seems to have forgotten to make hotel reservations for the impending birth.

And yet, it was into this less-than-perfect scenario that Jesus was born. Jesus arrived right in the middle of the mess. This is one of the central messages of Christmas. God is right there in the middle of the mess with us, waiting for us to seek out God’s presence so we can encounter God’s love for us wherever we are.

What is true about people is that we typically do not seek out God when life is going well. (I hate that.) We are those needing to embrace our inability to change circumstances, and cling to the One who will walk with us through them. May you encounter God right in the middle of whatever mess you face! Have a blessed Christmas!

The Joy of Stickers

I am waiting for the election official to know my line and say it with me, “I vote so I can have a sticker.” This year I was brazen enough to ask for two, knowing there was an outfit change later that day. I wanted to be able to wear it proudly throughout the day. It is a symbol of my participation.

Now, lest you think I’m waxing political here, I’m not. I’m just here to say “I like stickers.” Even as an adult I am fascinated by my own excitement over getting a sticker as a prize. (I need to let my dentist in on this secret.)

I discovered the pleasure of stickers most vividly while doing Weight Watchers. I hit the first weight loss goal of five percent and at the end of the meeting I not only got applause, but I got a sticker for my book. Then, they passed around a roll of stickers and you could take another if you exercised that week. Or, if you got in the right amount of fruits and veggies. This went on week after week. I own a booklet full of stickers, symbols of my participation in something I knew I could not do on my own. They are a comical collection of stars, teddy bears, and happy faces pointing to the fact that, step-by-step, I was learning how to be successful in the program right along with everyone else in the journey.

As followers of the Lord Jesus, I wonder about the symbols of participation we carry. If we claim our identity as a follower, or a servant of Jesus, then this means we care about the things that Jesus would care about. But, we can care at a distance. We can be moved to the core of our being by the plight of people around us, but do we participate in being the hands and feet of Jesus for them? Do we, by our actions, say to them, “God sees, God knows, and God cares”?

Participation is where rubber meets the road for those who follow Jesus. It is also where we are changed, where our hearts are trained, and our inward concern becomes outward reality for someone else. I think back to my friend, Cindy, who mirrored Jesus for me in her life and actions toward me as I was in deep hurt and desperate need. I think of the year she showed up with a Christmas tree cut from her property, the time she painted my dog hot pink to distract me from my troubles (topic for a future blog), and when she took me and my family into her home for three month. She didn’t do any of it for stickers; she did to serve the interests of Jesus. But, if I had my way, I’d buy her a gazillion stickers for her participation in bringing God’s kingdom to light in my life. She not only pointed me to Jesus, but she showed me what it looks like to be God’s person in action! May it be so in our lives!

Be blessed… and be a blessing to someone today!

Here are some thoughts and commentary for the Election Day: I sincerely hope you vote today. This is a privilege we too often take for granted. It is also a responsibility, so take it seriously. For the Christian, we ought to participate prayerfully, as we do in all of life.

If you vote, you earn the right to make commentary on the state of affairs in the post-election world. If you do not vote, you do NOT get to comment. (This ought to further add an incentive to vote.)

For the record, I try to be a-political. Politics (the grab for power) gets on my nerves. Watching an overdose of election commercials on cable makes me thankful for the DVR and EXTRA thankful for the fast-forward button.

This one concern strikes me as I consider how the evening will divide the map of the United States into states designated red or blue: just how divisive our election process seems to have become. The Apostle Paul repeatedly brought up the issue of unity within communities of faith. It's then a fair jump to say unity is better for humanity. So, however you vote, keep in mind that it is pointless to slice and dice each other. But, I think John Wesley says it best:

Be a blessing today!!  -- Pastor Margie