Is This How You Come To Us, Jesus?

A few years ago, lying in bed, sleep subsiding and yet not quite awake, a simple tune began burrowing into my consciousness. It played.... and it played again. And again. 

Next day and the next, same thing. Strange! And it persisted. 

After a time, I could hum the tune when I woke up. I decided to see if I could hum it and add some guitar chords. The chords presented themselves in a matter of minutes. 

Eventually, in my waking slumber, I began putting words to the tune. They rolled out quickly as well. 

Christmas was coming. An invitation was extended for Christmas Eve special music numbers at St John/St Paul Church. Christmas words were beginning to align themselves with my slumber tune.

So the song emerged. I sang it that Christmas Eve.

I've decided to post a recording of it I made with my daughter Amanda. A little scary to post a home made song when you're not a song writer, and it's not hard to see where the presentation could improve, but I must say, I do like the message. The words connect what happened in Bethlehem with what happens with us. It talks about Jesus intertwining his life with ours. It testifies that we often see Jesus most clearly in the dark moments and in the humble moments in our lives. And it affirms that Christmas is all about God's love for us!

We have been through some very dark and humbling moments this year, just the kinds of times when we can expect to see Jesus and his surprising love for us. 

https://youtu.be/jNSNSATv6-0

"Is This How You Come To Us, Jesus?"

Words and music by Pastor Tim Keeler

Stable light,

Glowing light,

Darkest night

Angel flight

Manger bed,

Cows were fed,

Cradled head,

Love was said.

In a stable musty

A child, a shepherd must see,

Joseph came, he did not flee,

Mary answered, "Let it be."

Is this how you come to us, Jesus?

Is this how our lives intertwine?

In dark and humble moments

Your love begins to shine.

Shepherds doing what they do,

Passing time without a clue,

Soon to learn that all is new,

Angels grace the scruffy few.

Now we sense this gleaning:

Our God, who gives all meaning,

From heav'n to earth is leaning,

In flesh, intervening.

Is this how you come to us, Jesus?

Is this how our lives intertwine?

In dark and humble moments

Your love begins to shine.

We welcome you here blessed Jesus.

We welcome you into our lives.

Like shepherds and Joseph and Mary,

We welcome your surprise.

Gloria in excelsis!

Fascinated by Christmas

Christmas is coming.  With that in mind, and with Christmas list in hand, 

Martha and I made a trip to our local mall to begin our gift search in 
earnest.

We had just bagged one trophy gift at one end of the mall and were 
heading towards the other end.  Out in the middle of the mall walkway was 
a display of some sort, lamps and knick knacks and such.  I paid little 
heed.  I had other things in mind.  

But then I saw this little toddler, barely old enough to walk.  He 
toddled over to the display, and immediately his head snapped back in 
order to get the full view of what was in front of him.  His mouth 
dropped open, and he stood there in complete, unashamed awe.  

I had to slow up my step long enough to glance over and see what he was 
looking at.  It was a globe about the size of a volleyball, made of 
chunks of glass.  It revolved and had a light inside that glowed through 
the chunks of glass.   Rich reds, greens and blues lit up the display and 
his face.

Soon his mother came to see what he had found.  He oooo-ed and aaaah-ed 
trying to let his mother know how special this thing was.  The child was 
totally fascinated.  

I marveled at the innocent wonder that children have, especially at 
Christmas time.  I have to admit that, inside, I yearned to be fascinated 
like that, to be in wonder and awe like that child.  I commented to 
Martha, "Oh the wonder of kids!"

Later on in our mall trip, we circled back by that display one more time.
I have to admit that, because I had seen that child so taken by the glass 
chunked globe, I had to see it for myself, up close.  It was indeed, 
marvelous, bright and colorful.  I can see how the toddler was so taken 
with it.

I pray that, somehow, this Christmas we will encounter people who come to 
the manger and stand before the Christ child in total fascination, awe 
and wonder.  By their awe and wonder, they draw us into the wonder of the 
word made flesh. 

I pray that we will take time to see the wonder in our children as they 
kneel at the manger, eyes transfixed on the gift that is before them. 

I pray that our worship will catch us like that globe of glass chunks 
caught that boy, and that we will be struck speechless before the beauty 
of the Christ child so that we are moved to profound oooohs and aaaahs. 

I pray that we, like that child in the mall, will draw our families to 
the place where the gift can be seen.

I pray that because others in proximity to us have seen the awe and 
wonder in us, they will be drawn to circle back again to see what moved 
us to such wonder.

In reality that's what Christmas is, a time of awe.  Joseph stands in 
awe.  Mary holds the child in awe.  Shepherds kneel in awe.  Wise men 
travel and present gifts in awe.  

In a world that is sometimes aw-ful, it is time for an awe-filled 
Christmas.