Long Way Here

This photo and everything about it weighs heavy on me. Why COVID-19 naysayers still exist is beyond my understanding. When I see images like this I am reminded of the depth and humanness of its realness.

To all my friends who work in any realm of the healthcare profession, and to all those who love you, I honor you and am grateful for you. I am sorry that we as a society haven’t done better by you. Thank you for rising above our selfishness and irrational ideologies and choosing to care for us anyway. You are the embodiment of grace and mercy in this merciless and graceless season.

With a rhyme on her lips and rhythm in her heart, she meets the eyes of the gathered. She opens the Holy Book and turns the page. She speaks:

‘“If we say we are his we must follow the example of Christ.” First John, chapter two, the sixth verse.

The devil shouts, but the Lord whispers. The devil assigns labels, but the Lord favors love. The devil judges mercilessly and upholds falsity, but the Lord judges mercifully and upholds truth.

Brothers and sisters, if our neighbors hear Christians shouting out labels in merciless judgement and denying the truth, they can know that it isn’t of the Lord.”

The eyes of the gathered meet her eyes as she closes the Holy Book. With a rhyme in her soul and rhythm in her step she walks back to her seat at the Lord’s Table.

The Lord leans over and whispers, “Well done, daughter.”

“The Work of Christmas” is written by Howard Thurman from his work, The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
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 rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.

PRAYER

Holy God who came to us in a manger, teach us to follow our Lord into the lives of others so that we may proclaim your reign of love and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An excerpt from a sermon preached by John Chrysostom (c. 347-407):

What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands. But He has decreed that shame shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness. . . .To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit, we offer all praise, now and forever. Amen.

Blessed Christmas day to you all!

In loneliness, there is hope because the Christ child is Immanuel. In confusion, there can be peace because the Christ child is Immanuel. In sorrow, there can be joy because the Christ child is Immanuel. In darkness, there can be light because the Christ child is Immanuel. God is with us.

Compassion can overcome condemnation, significance can replace shame, hospitality can heal hurts, and love can conquer loneliness.

Immanuel is our way. He is our light.

Immanuel never hope. He is our life.

Immanuel is our joy. He is our peace.

Immanuel is our rock. He is our strength.

Immanuel never leaves. His love is sure.

Immanuel is “God with us.” He is Jesus the Lord.

~ Fred