As I took my walk this morning, I was thinking about Mary. I was actually wishing she were walking and talking with me in the cold air on this December day. I have so much on my mind and heart, and she understands these things. I would have enjoyed talking with Mary as the elder, the sage… the one who gave birth to Jesus and years later, buried him as well. Now there’s a Christmas story for our times because chances are… Mary was
filled with complex feelings and thoughts as she gave birth to the Son of God that cold and lonely night. Was
there joy? Yes. Was fear present, and worry and uncertainty? Of course! Did she laugh and cry? Yes, because this is life and she honored that truth in the deepest parts of her heart. Mary gave us her Son in so many ways and in doing so… she gave us permission to be real, to be honest and open and true to where we stand as who we are. I’ll bet Mary had mud (or worse!) on her sandals when Jesus was born.
We think we have to do Christmas perfectly… decorations, presents, events, happiness, sparkling lights and spirits. We think we have to be merry… that Jesus and everyone else will be disappointed if we aren’t. But perhaps what is most important at this time of the year is to simply stay close to what is true and hold it with as much compassion as we possibly can. We tend to love traditions, but maybe they need a rest so we can find our way back to Mary’s heart and to the love Jesus came to bring. Maybe tears are the most needed gift or sighing or drawing close to our own souls so that we might tend what breaks us and invite a healing of those wounds before they wound others.
When Mary and Joseph and the lowly animals gathered in that stable… they just showed up to what was and they did the best they could with those vague, confusing, and holy circumstances. I want to join them in this coming year. I want to let go of perfection and find God’s holy face exactly where I never expected to find it…
Let me know if you’d like to come along.
filled with complex feelings and thoughts as she gave birth to the Son of God that cold and lonely night. Was
there joy? Yes. Was fear present, and worry and uncertainty? Of course! Did she laugh and cry? Yes, because this is life and she honored that truth in the deepest parts of her heart. Mary gave us her Son in so many ways and in doing so… she gave us permission to be real, to be honest and open and true to where we stand as who we are. I’ll bet Mary had mud (or worse!) on her sandals when Jesus was born.
We think we have to do Christmas perfectly… decorations, presents, events, happiness, sparkling lights and spirits. We think we have to be merry… that Jesus and everyone else will be disappointed if we aren’t. But perhaps what is most important at this time of the year is to simply stay close to what is true and hold it with as much compassion as we possibly can. We tend to love traditions, but maybe they need a rest so we can find our way back to Mary’s heart and to the love Jesus came to bring. Maybe tears are the most needed gift or sighing or drawing close to our own souls so that we might tend what breaks us and invite a healing of those wounds before they wound others.
When Mary and Joseph and the lowly animals gathered in that stable… they just showed up to what was and they did the best they could with those vague, confusing, and holy circumstances. I want to join them in this coming year. I want to let go of perfection and find God’s holy face exactly where I never expected to find it…
Let me know if you’d like to come along.
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