God Bursts In
STOP
Breathe. Breathe deep. Notice where you are and all the things surrounding you. Know that God is with you and just as close as the things around you.
LISTEN
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23
REFLECT
When I was a kid, my sister and I would play outside in the snow. We were good Minnesota kids, bundled up from head to toe looking like giant marshmallow people: snowpants, jackets, hats, mittens, scarves, boots. I remember one winter we built this huge snow fort and tunnel in our front yard. I was in the tunnel working my way through when all of a sudden, my dog came racing in from the other end, stole the hat off my head, turned around and took off! He was a corgi and small enough to do that. It was surprising! So, I got moving and followed after him as fast as I could on my knees. People are good at making dark places, worlds of cold, (And some of us might feel like we’re living in one long tunnel with no light at the end) but then God bursts in and does something surprising, startling even. God becomes one of us. God becomes human- not only to die for us, but to live with us. I think God likes to surprise us, giving us the huge gift of Presence. God loves us so much that being with us, fully in Christ, was the best way to tell us. And maybe our best response is to follow after Him, often on our knees, living as we were shown in Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
PRAY
God, thank you for surprising us and bursting into our world and into our lives. Your light shines bright in the darkness and the cold that surrounds us. Remind us that you are present and that is the greatest gift. Amen
CARRY ON
As we follow after Christ seeking to learn and live in a way that reflects God’s love and light to others, remember that much of the time we follow on our knees. Humbly praying for God to change us; for God to mold us and shape us for God’s purposes; for God to be with us and carry us when it’s hard is much of the journey.