It’s blizzarding out. Right now as I write. Like a real life Little House on the Prairie-esque bonafide BLIZ-Zard! At any moment I’m expecting Pa and Mr. Edwards to fall through the front door, half frozen, to save the day, and then we shall all dance around while Pa plays the fiddle (once his fingers thaw, of course).
As it is, the roads are closed, everything‘s canceled, and we’ve all been given this disruptive and may I say very welcome gift of stillness.
Not all disruptions are welcomed, of course. I get that. But I’m becoming more and more convinced in my Misfit Middle age, that there are indeed some wonderful treasures wrapped up in them there disruptions. If only we just look for them.
In fact, as it turns out, I wrote about just that a few months ago, when I contributed an entry to an Advent Devotional. And, as it turns out, my submission was for today, otherwise known as Christmas Eve; so I thought I’d share it with you all.
Here it is!
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”
Luke 2:1
Taxes. Greeeeat. Put that on your Christmas card! Doesn’t exactly fit the whole “Home for the Holidays” Hallmark Channel vibe now, does it? And not only that, but a disruptive cross country move … at the most inconvenient time. Whose idea was this anyway?
Oh yeah…
Now, two thousand years later, we have the benefit of hindsight to look back on this story through our “happily ever after” lenses. We can see that it had to be this way, to fulfill scripture, “… but you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” (Micah 5:2) We can see the beautiful symbolism of the King of Kings, humbling Himself, “being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7), making His entrance in obscurity, among literal beasts. Immanuel. God with us. Yes. Of course. It had to be this way.
It all makes sense … in hindsight.
But do you honestly think when that decree went out and the news trickled down to Joseph and Mary, the first thought that went through their mind was “Oh yay! Taxes! Road trip! This is going to be amaaaazing!” I’m thinking not. I am thinking perhaps it was more like “Really? Come on, seriously???” Okay, maybe that’s just me.
But if that was their first thought I wouldn’t fault them for it. Because let’s not forget, they were in the middle of it, and all they knew was what was immediately before them … and that can be overwhelming … in the moment. But they also knew Who had come before them… Who had gone before them … Who was with them … and in Mary’s case, even IN them. They were not alone. They literally walked with God the whole way. And they ended up in EXACTLY the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME.
Isn’t that just the way God is?
“Father, give us eyes to see Jesus among us… the Holy Spirit in us… as we ready our hearts to celebrate Immanuel… even (and especially) through whatever “curveballs” are thrown our way. Strengthen our feet to walk with You! ”
Merry DISRUPTIVE CHRISTMAS to you!
Oh, and here a few blizzard pics ❄️
Isle of misfits 