Life Matters - December 25, 2024
As long as we live on this spinning orb, joy and vulnerability remain close companions: do they not? Our joy may be ever so secure in heavenly places and yet our bodies are, and remain, vulnerable. If we get spiritually careless our joy may get attached to our own bodies, material things, or both, and so we may embark on a continuous emotional roller coaster ride. There is nothing stable in this world and so joy detached from eternal stability is like the undulating waves of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. ‘’A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.’’ (James 1:6-8) Seeking stability and joy in loving this material world while attempting to retain security in Christ is a truly unsettling place to be, as witnessed to by God in His Word, as well as by many a convert or revived christian.
Being vulnerable while bringing joy to the earth is what God did 2025 years ago in the little town of Bethlehem. Heralded by angels, witnessed to by shepherds, recorded by wise men from the east, with the star they followed testifying to the Word of God. He spoke the cosmos, that ‘’spoke’’ of Him, into existence, then was born of a woman, laid in a manger (a feed trough), sheltered by a simple barn. He was voluntarily born into this vulnerable place to bring joy into the hearts and minds of all who receive Him. He was born without sin, died with no sin on his record, was given a proper burial, then rose from the grave for our justification. (Romans 4:24-25) He began His mission as a vulnerable child. Like the rest of us.
The little boy’s delighted gaze took in the beautiful green lawn of a sunny day extending out from the wrap-around porch attached to the sturdy red brick farmhouse. What delighted him most right now were the beautiful bright yellow flowers glistening from the greenery of lawn here and there. The flowers seemed all the more beautiful for their rarity and the three-year-old boy’s running feet fairly tingled as he crisscrossed the lawn searching out the biggest, brightest, most beautiful, to form a bouquet of the pretty yellow flowers for his mother. Satisfied, he trotted across the patio to the porch and front door, and with help from a sister, opened the screen door and approached his mother with love in every step and fairly shining from his eyes. With a slight trepidation he held them up to her, hoping she would like them as much as he did and suddenly hoping it was ok to pick them. Mother’s beaming face assured him as her shining brown eyes met his. ‘’Denke, denke, denke!’’ (thank you, thank you, thank you!) she exclaimed in a voice sweetened by a sincerity of heart that caused the little boy’s heart to swell and sing for joy.
In case you’re wondering, yes, that little boy was me, the earliest memory I have retained of my mother. One of the sweetest memories this full-grown guy has of his mother, made all the sweeter by the identity of the flowers, for yes, they were dandelions. Mother must have recognized how vulnerable I was at that moment. She also must have recognized the heart with which those flowers were given and wanted my joy to flower like the dandelions.
I recognize my vulnerability like I didn’t back then and these days I seem to be a vulnerable patriarch, in the family sense of the word. We had our family Christmas dinner, a 2-day and 2-night delightful affair, the weekend before the actual holiday. Food, fun, family, and fellowship! It was indeed a joyous occasion. And yes, grandma had the turkey browned to perfection! The house was abuzz with conversation, the laughter and play of children, the occasional cry of a baby. Carolyn did an excellent job with the nativity scene play and program. It was beautiful, involving most of the grandchildren. One ‘’sheep’’ ‘’chickened out’’ and one sheep sat on the floor for all the world like a real person! Except for the oldest, the grandchildren that were present, 4 and up were involved, as well as one baby taken on the trek to Egypt. (the newborn in the manger was a doll) Joseph and Mary—the baby in a manger—the angels—the shepherds—the wise men—the sheep…it was beautiful!
The grand finale came after everyone had packed up and cleaned up. We gathered in the dining room for a time of expressing joy in song and in prayer, but then also beseeching God for His protection from spiritual dangers and then also for protection over all traveling home.
As we parted ways, thoughts of joy ‘’swelled my heart’’ even as my mind put a check on my spirit. Being a patriarch carries with it a vulnerability of its own. Because the deeper we love the deeper can go the hurt. If a child or a grandchild were to hurt, I would hurt with them, which then increases the potential for hurt. We are vulnerable.
As we experienced at the family Christmas dinner, there is also incredible joy, as well as potential for more joy. As we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with God, He increases joy.
Life Matters!