Yes, Christmas has been in the air since shops started their Christmas specials, restaurants offering their Christmas packages, people planning Christmas gatherings, churches filled with Christmas activities...
but Christmas isn't about Rudolf and his red nose, nor Santa and his sleigh. Nor is it about having nice jazzy Christmas music, or dreams about a white Christmas elsewhere. Nope, it's not about eggnog lattes, and definitely not about romance, as the world defines it. Neither is it about hyped up unsubstantiated feelings, kinda like a balloon - u go higher and higher and higher and on boxing day, your balloon burst and everything falls flat, the emptiness lingers on...
yet, there is that sense of "magic" in Christmas.
the "magic" that sustained me through a low Christmas last year, the "magic" that saw me through a difficult year, the "magic" that sees things turning around, such that I am no longer on a low Christmas this year, the "magic" that ignites the excitement and anticipation for the coming year...
oh! the "magic" that works wonders - when i close my eyes and breathe, i can almost inhale thin crisp chilly air, and smell faithfulness in it all.
this Christmas I re-embrace the "magic" that so teased and invited me towards it even long before I understood the reason for Christmas.
the "magic" lies in the word "Emmanuel".
Emmanuel - the greatest gift ever.
Emmanuel. God with us.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Saturday, December 05, 2009
tear down those doors!
Our church is finally ready!
Just last weekend, all eyes were on the few macho men who carried those heavy wooden doors and held our breath as we watched them installed each door to the hinges.
Today, as I journal-ed away during reflection time, the voices of the YA rang out from the sanctuary, through closed doors. The thought that came to mind was - "We really should tear down our doors and let the angelic voices ring outwards!" It's a good way to be an attractive force. Even if people outside can hear the singing (I doubt it), the reluctance barrier is much higher if they have to make the effort to walk in, reach out to open those somewhat intimidating, almost uninviting wooden doors.
As such, we have to go out. Be the expansive force instead.
Just last weekend, all eyes were on the few macho men who carried those heavy wooden doors and held our breath as we watched them installed each door to the hinges.
Today, as I journal-ed away during reflection time, the voices of the YA rang out from the sanctuary, through closed doors. The thought that came to mind was - "We really should tear down our doors and let the angelic voices ring outwards!" It's a good way to be an attractive force. Even if people outside can hear the singing (I doubt it), the reluctance barrier is much higher if they have to make the effort to walk in, reach out to open those somewhat intimidating, almost uninviting wooden doors.
As such, we have to go out. Be the expansive force instead.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)