Risky Business ... this news of Christmas!

I have so much to tell … to relay … to convey … that one blog post could not possibly contain all that my little heart has experienced since last week’s post: Weekend Gift #3: Memory,

Parker and Addison both having winning basketball games,

Libby’s Christmas play at school, the long goodbye at the airport to my sister, baking, making and wrapping gifts

… it’s just all too much! And, since I’ve imposed upon myself a blog post only once a week, I’ve got to cram it all in to this one post! What’s a girl … a wordy girl at that … to do?

Summarize. And, as thoughts churn around in my head like visions of sugar plums from a fitting seasonal tale, one story keeps rising to the surface that does put a period to the end of the my sentence.

Last May I started meeting once a week with a language partner. She has become a friend. She is a young professional woman who is naturally beautiful, highly intelligent, rides a motorcycle and loves to gather friends. She admittedly has a problem with the politics of religion but seems to be very open to God as evidenced by her willingness and openness to begin reading the Bible with me when we meet.

In December, I proposed that we read in Matthew about the story of Jesus birth. As we read, she made the following statement that has done nothing but bounce around and echo in my heart and soul this holiday season. After reading and discussing about the historical context of the shepherds, their lowly position on the ladder of society, their reputation for being outcasts and possibly the down and out, she made the following comment:

“Don’t you think it was pretty risky of God to give this message of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds?”

Let that sink in for a few minutes. I did. As I did, I kept and keep coming to the following thought:

“Isn’t it pretty risky of God to allow me to share this message of Jesus’ to my world?”

Let that sink in for a few minutes. If you are a believing in Jesus person … insert your name here and ask yourself the same question.

Now, let me paint another picture of how this phrase settles inside me. Just yesterday my sweet Libby was an angel in her school play. She was decked out in her angel costume singing her little heart out “… and man will live forever more, because of Christmas day.”

I got her message. Her smiling face, her joy and enthusiasm, her spunky diva self proudly proclaimed her message. OK. I do admit she was probably pretty enamored by the idea that so many spectators were watching her perform (as evidenced by her, alone, bowing 2 times after the performance!) but her message was received.

No. She isn’t a real angel.
No. Her costume wasn’t authentic.
No. Her halo wasn’t stable, slipping well past her forehead and into her eyes.

But she beautifully illustrated what I’ve been intellectually contemplating by my language partner’s comment. It is a risky move to entrust humans to share the message of a Savior. And that’s the whole point.

Yes. We aren’t perfect.
Yes. We are sometime unauthentic.
Yes. We are sometimes unstable and slip far from the place of making an impact.

But we are chosen. Just as Libby was so proud to play her part as the angel, we who make commitments to follow Jesus have said yes to a call to proclaim this message of hope and peace and life eternal. It is risky. It’s so risky it makes me wonder why spread such a message this way? It’s so risky, it’s crazy. That’s how I know it’s perfect! The greater the risk of me being good at what I’m called to convey, the more God shows up … is seen in my imperfections and slipped halo … and is seen loud and clear.

Wow.

Not sure when I’m gonna post another blog. Immediately following Christmas, we begin our journey to Rembrandtstrasse … our new place. We move out December 28th … which just happens to be my Chris’ 20th wedding anniversary (to me, of course!). Hopefully internet will be up and running … but one never knows.

As you gear up for the main event … take stock of the things that really count … take joy in the fact that God takes risks … and peace in the knowledge that the biggest risk He ever took (sending his holy and perfect son to earth) was designed with you in mind.

God bless you … truly.