Meditation on the Manger
Consider that straw.
Pointy and prickly in Desert dry space, and supposed to swaddle Him?
Little baby skin - freshly addressing this world.
And then a possible, "Ouch!"
Preparing Him, I suppose.
Preparing him - for the trials of the world. The ever-present thorn in his side that is humanity! What a metaphor. My friend Eva collects creches, little manger scenes, and she says it's because as a teacher of literature she thinks this is literally the greatest story ever told. Homeless couple - need for a safe place to give birth - nowhere comfortable available, but the miracle comes anyway! Isn't life SO MUCH like that?
When was Jesus ever comfortable? When did he say that we should pursue comfort? And yet... isn't that what so much of American life is about? We're so pathetic. Jesus said "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep" - but how much of our lives do we devote to THAT?
Reality check: "Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable" - which side of that phrase am I on?
Merry Christmas!
Preparing him - for the trials of the world. The ever-present thorn in his side that is humanity! What a metaphor. My friend Eva collects creches, little manger scenes, and she says it's because as a teacher of literature she thinks this is literally the greatest story ever told. Homeless couple - need for a safe place to give birth - nowhere comfortable available, but the miracle comes anyway! Isn't life SO MUCH like that?
When was Jesus ever comfortable? When did he say that we should pursue comfort? And yet... isn't that what so much of American life is about? We're so pathetic. Jesus said "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep" - but how much of our lives do we devote to THAT?
Reality check: "Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable" - which side of that phrase am I on?
Merry Christmas!
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