In the midst of war (and there is always a war) lies grim misjudging. Fear of difference. Insatiable greed for land. Resolute loathing. Dire false impressions. Grave miscommunications.
And a common moon.
And beneath that moon, in God’s perfect alignment, is home to us all. We’ve food and water (if only we’d gladly share), great plains and mountains, celebrated seas with unfathomably large communal mammals. With microscopic yet astoundingly complex sentient beings. Sands God has numbered stay in place as our home spins, not spilling a drop of the vast waters that both adorn and provide, beautify and quench.
And though we do not tend to her needs (let alone the needs of “others”), God gave us this home brilliantly placed beneath the moon of His choosing, populated with children He chooses to love. (There are no “others.”}
At Christmastime, reflecting on our God, I see a rich and sumptuous show of grace. A story so enthralling bids me laud A baby boy, born in a lowly place.
God simply breathed, and life then came to be. He spoke-spilled stars that move at His command. He fashioned sand and man, and shell and sea, This God who values meek, as well as grand.
So when it came to paying debt of sin, He chose to do the grandest thing of all In such a way that awes me deep within: Majestic use of unforeseen, and small.
A vulnerable newborn was His means, Born of a humble woman in her teens.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:14
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” ~ Matthew 1:18-23
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ~ Matthew 1:21
In last night’s sky I saw hundreds of stars above me, and I remembered Michigan’s night sky, when you and I stood beneath not hundreds but billions or trillions and I wished I could take them home.
In last night’s sky I saw hundreds of stars above me. Today, not even one. Not even the sun.
But now? Now, I know they are here –
billions and trillions and even the sun, and even when I see not even one.
pictured words 