Trees and Storms and The Christmas Child

We've had two babies born into our family in the last two months.  It's not hard for us to imagine the fear and wonder felt by Mary and Joseph on that day two thousand years ago.  What a splendid Christmas this is!

Worldly riches have mostly passed us by, but in the Lord's books we are wealthy beyond measure.   So even though other parts of my life have been a challenge, I've been dancing my way through the days and singing "All I want for Christmas Is You."   

Baby Girl, Baby Boy, you bless us with yourselves.  And you remind us of that one perfect Baby who opened the doors of salvation and renewal to every person who ever was, or ever will be.

Last week a huge storm blew through here.  You probably saw the pictures.   I have lived most of my life around Seattle, and I have never before seen so much damage, so many thousands of trees down.  Power was out for the majority of us.  Roads were under water or closed off by fallen trees and downed power lines, schools closed, entire towns dark.  Cable tv and internet was disrupted, grocery stores and gas stations sold out.

Just a mess.  And so frustrating, so close to Christmas.  Then the modern equivalent of the Three Wise Men showed up.  Not on camels with spices and gold, but in power company trucks with splicing gear and spools of cable.  From all the nearby states they came, and they've been working around the clock ever since. 

Neighborhood angels shone.   Men with pickup trucks and chainsaws converted road hazards to firewood right away.  Kids took the branches to make holiday decorations.  People who had power, or with wood stoves, took in the elderly and the sick and the families with little ones to keep warm.  Milk, bread, soup, candles and diapers were shared out.  People fed pets and did laundry for each other.  Carpools and daycare were arranged overnight.

It's great to know we can get hit so hard and bounce back so quickly.  Reassuring that people were responsible and cooperative.  Some consolation to know that the beautiful lost trees are being recycled as fuel, wreaths, compost.  And mostly it's good to be reminded, in the middle of the high tech, high clutter, high maintenance lifestyle that threatens to consume us, that everything that truly matters can be seen in the face of a newborn baby. 

This is the miracle of Christ, born 2,006 years ago and still the greatest news ever.  That each of us, every day, can be that newborn baby; with a brand new life and all the world before us.  Buffeted by storms and soiled by our sins, then made clean and whole again.   Frail and fallible we may be, but also perfect in the moments that we repent and try again.  Again.  And again.   

Made by God, loved unconditionally and forever.

Merry Christmas. 

 

 

    

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Comments

[wilma]

We also have a new baby in our family. It certainly does make one look in awe at the miracle of birth. What a blessing for a beautiful new life. Love your blog.

[Lana]

I'm sorry, but this is just funny. I click to comment and in the entire, world-wide web, who should have commented first but my mother!?!?

It's a small world after all.

Congratulations on the two new babies! Isn't it amazing how they allow all of us see the world thru completely different eyes? Just their existence brings joy in even the most troubling times. You just can't NOT smile. The joy is contagious.

Hopefully, it will go a long way towards making that lemonade! ;)