Post Christmas

God was in the ordinary this year, but so were other things:  human pique, frustration, anti-commercialism, jealousy and a bit of sullenness.  And that was just a list of my own ‘things’. On a night just before Christmas, I went through a ‘living nativity’ with lights timed to a radio signal you got in your car (weird!) and angels holding styrofoam coffee cups gossiping with moments of a scattered Merry Christmas to the passing cars.  Lord, help us, we have taken the ordinary to new lows in the midst of the high of a Christmas meant to say “YES!” to the world, as in 2 Corinthians 1:16:22.  I was very grateful to have the Mockingbirdsleap to steady my course this year.  Thanks and Happy New Year to you all.

The waiting is the hardest part . . .

. . . at least according to Tom Petty. This fall has been particularly difficult time for our family unexpected death of my father in law, comprehensive exams for my spouse (clearly it was the hardest for her), and my son suffering a pretty severe broken leg in an (American) football game. A teammate was tackled into my son’s lower left leg as he was blocking, snapping both tibia and fibula. (Not quite Joe Theisman for you Americans, nor thankfully quite Eduardo for those who know of the Arsenal striker’s horrific injury last season, as the bones didn’t penetrate the skin, but very nearly). Surgery, a rod, screws, pain meds, a week on the couch were followed by a boot/aircast and crutches.

After two months the doctor was able to finally give Graham the news he wanted to hear: you can take off the boot and put away the crutches. His muscles now dwindled to half their original size, his ankle and knee not all that flexible, it was easier said than done. So as we waited in the waiting room to see the physical therapist, I stood in front of my strapping young adult son much as I had done 17 years earlier, arms outstretched saying “come to daddy,” half joking, half serious, full of pathos and emotion. My son, who has been quite remarkable through this entire ordeal, bravely took a few halting steps, uncertain if his knee would buckle, uncertain that he would stay standing as he leaned heavily on my hand. But he did just fine, and he’s limping around pretty well now. There is still a lot of rehab to go before he’ll be back to the impressive fitness he had before the break, so there is more waiting. But for now there is a small foretaste of what’s to come and I’m reminded of the signs of the messianic kingdom:

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.” –Matt 11. 2-6.

Past/Present/Future Tense

The pastor did it again last night for Christmas service. Jumped right from the miracle of incarnation to the hope of a second coming. Now, I am one who still holds that there may well be a triumphal return. But, I wanted to shout from the auditorium, “Your missing Christmas!”
The miracle of Creator becoming creature happened past tense, recorded and verified. The Divine has left no doubt that the two have been unified.
And today the Light comes again to remind us how much our Savior deserves love, praise, and adoration. And God will continue to come in splendor, light, and holiness that warrants an angel chorus whenever we set aside our pet dogmas and turn around to see all that exceeds our limited explanations.
May the presence be real, powerful, and life altering for each of you this day. Your posts bring much light to me in the dark of winter.
peace

The Work of Christmas

Not writing much myself, sitting by the window looking at an ice-storm in Indiana but enjoying a little poetry.

When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and Princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To teach the nations
To bring Christ to all
To make music in the heart.
— Howard Thurman

One to ponder

3 Dollars Worth of God

I would like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please
Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant.
I want ecstasy, not transformation.
I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth.
I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.
I’d like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please
How much God do you want?
You get as much or as little as you desire.

Wilbur Reese

The Party

The day of the party had arrived. It wasn’t a big affair, just a few friends and the odd neighbour coming for some Christmas drinks and hopefully some craic. The morning was spent finishing off the Christmas shopping, amidst the bustling hordes. Lunch was quickly downed with the knowledge that preparations for the evening needed to be made. Cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming the house seemed to take an age, and felt like gym workout. As the tidying progressed, dishes done, dinner eaten, furniture moved, candles lit, and music chosen the house was transformed. When the last snacks and drinks were sitting on the table ready to be consumed, suddenly there was nothing left to do but wait for the first arrival. After the busyness and rushing around, the last minute trip to M&S, there was stillness. In the stillness, preparations made, we wondered who would come, how the night would go, would people get on? In the midst of the anticipation suddenly it dawned on me. This is advent. Waiting. Expectancy. Anticipation. An unexpected holy moment…

What’s Important?

After making a decision to leave a well paid job that required a great deal of training, to become self employed, this season of advent has brought me to a place of reflection and re-evaluation of what it is that really matters.  What do I see as important? my title, how much I earn, how much importance I can get out of replying to the question – what do you do for a living? how much I can try and save towards getting a house, my education and level of qualifications….is being happy, too simple or not religious enough? I am so glad our heaveny father looks at our heart and none of the above.  During this season and through the posts on mocking bird’s leap, I am reassured by the fact that God is at the centre of all reality.  In the midst of lights, presents, christmas movies and shopping, I want to be constantly aware of what really matters…knowing how much God loves me, what he did for me and being available to grow in partnership with him to wherever that leads me.

Morning

Last night, gathering with my imperfect family and realization that they ARE family regardless. Tomorrow Solstice celebration with my former teaching staff, who are heart family to me. Today, no church, the light did not draw me to their gathering today. But, the sun is up and bright, very bright. Great night of sleep last night. And wonderful posts here on Mockingbird to help me turn to the light that IS. Thank you. Time to pray and live gratitude by caring for the all of the life around us. peace

A Child’s Dance

Earlier in the week, in the span of just over 48 hours, I officiated at the funeral of a 50 year old choir member, deeply loved and sorely missed by all who knew her; got the news that my wife had a lump in her breast; and heard from my 25 year old son, a veteran of combat in Afghanistan, that the VA was considering checking him to see if he had suffered any brain damage from the near-by explosions he experienced in combat.  Our days hear in Atlanta have been uniformly grey recently, and the skies matched my mood.

The next day my two and a half year old granddaughter had her first ballet recital.  Horrific traffic getting to her studio, but it was a joyful gift to see her.  Naomi and her group only had one song to dance to, but she wa clearly enjoying herself, and was very much into it when she wasn’t looking at mom and dad.  Lots of smiles, and she actually seemed to be keeping the beat.  When she got back to her home she continued to dance, enjoying movement and the gift of life.  It was a shaft of light for me in the midst of the dark.  And serves as promise of more light to come.

I should add that while there is another test to run, early reports on my wife are encouraging.

Stand by Me…

Just incase you haven’t come across this elsewhere… a friend from the US set me onto it…

Worth sharing as we celebrate the coming of the one called Immanuel… God with us…