how long?
how long, Lord?
have you
ever uttered
these words
or some form
of that question?
and does not
the word
why
often follow close behind?
together they are often the
cry of a broken heart feeling
unable to take another step
or even another breath.
the space following such
a cry can feel like the lonliest
place
on
earth.
especially when the lights
of Christmas are twinkling
and songs of Christmas fill
the air.
for in that space of
pain and heartache
celebrating seems
almost impossible.
it can, in fact, feel wrong.
and that is okay.
the One whose birth
we celebrate at Christmas
understands and holds the
heart close to His own.
for the heart knowing Jesus,
victory is promised.
still standing in the end is reality.
He said it.
I believe it.
yet the space
between how long
and still standing
remains.
like a chord
longing to be resolved,
the suspension can leave
one hanging in midair,
so to speak.
the space of
what once was
no longer exists.
that mold is
b
r
o
k
e
n.
the what is to be
is yet to be defined.
you know that you know
that you will be standing
in the end
but
what
about
the now?
in and of myself,
I have no solutions
that would take away
the hurt and uncertainty,
yet this one thing I do know:
for today, aching heart,
hold onto His promises.
He will not leave you.
ever.
He will not forsake you.
ever.
He is for you, not against you.
He loves you and sings over you.
each morning the sun rising is a
reminder that He holds all.
each evening the sun setting
is a reminder that He
reaches down with
heaven's kiss.
"Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,
all you who remain in Israel.
I have cared for you since you were born.
Yes, I carried you before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime,
until your hair is white with age.
I made you and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you."
Isaiah 46:3-4
you. are. not. alone.
"I will search for my lost ones
who strayed away, and I will
bring them safely home again.
I will bandage the injured and
strengthen the weak."
Ezekiel 34:16
is this not the essence of
the Christmas story?
we stray.
He searches.
we run, we hide.
He gently brings us
home.
and is that
not the
history of
humanity?
Adam and Eve hid.
God searched.
God found.
and in that
moment,
the story and plan
of Christmas
was
set
in
motion.
could it be that for all the
complexities and
disagreements
and even
'righteous
wars'
between
the left
(whatever that is)
and the right
(again, whatever
that is)
we have lost
the beauty,
the essence,
the simplicity,
of the story?
not that the
story itself
was simple
and beautiful,
for the Son of God
lived a life being
rejected and scorned
and died a death
unimaginable
in its horror.
no, the beauty
is in the simplicity
of the essence of the story.
and we make it so complicated.
what if, for even a day,
we would set aside any
differences that we as
followers of Jesus have.
what would it look like?
what if we poured
grace over one another
instead of anger?
what if we humbly
admitted that maybe
we don't have the corner
on the market of being right?
what if we listened
instead of attacking?
what if we committed
to spreading the love
which brought Jesus
to the manger?
for He bridged
the span between
heaven
and
earth all
because of love
for you. for me.
for every heart
ever beating
and if we, those who
profess to love Jesus,
simply live the love
of the Christmas story
in this coming Christmas
season, perhaps the world ~
our neighbors, our coworkers,
our friends, our families,
and perhaps especially those
who view life through a
different lens than
we do ~
just maybe
the world
would notice
and see the
love of Jesus
shine through
us this Christmas.
and the dark of night
will never be able to
extinguish the light
of the Christ of
Christmas.
we are in the story.
we are the story.
we are.
all because of Him
and through Him
and ultimately
for His glory.
