This Season...

Finding solace in this hustle bustle society we call home is a challenge.  The rush for what to buy?  What plans to make? Stretching dollars, as my kiddos call it, to last for the season.  It's somewhat overwhelming.  Then finding a spot to "give" to the poor, befriend a stranger, welcome the guest, serve those without a place to rest...Wow!  All this wrapped in a  season of carols, parties, Santa, tree trimming ..out of breath writing it.  My anxiety of leaving out or forgetting a task accelerates; let's hope my electronic held device will remind me, whistle for my attention and get me to where I am going.  Oh and bring me peace, joy and reflection as I complete each task.

It doesn't resonate with what I re-tell myself and my family that defines Jesus and His free gift to this world. So... Why do I feel discouraged? Why do the shadows come?  Why does my heart feel lonely...when Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He.  The constant pull of being in this world, not of it.  I think of my refugee-family, they know what it means to be without, sleeping with guns to "bar" the tent doorway from danger, sharing a bowl of porridge (which my family has never seen or tasted) with the 6 hungry mouths...hoping for more to come.  Then we in our world of mostly comfort, fight over traditions in our faith, worship styles, who interrupts the Bible and the constitution most clearly...ugh. Do the eyes and ears of our Lord really never tire of this scene?

Slow to anger.  Rescuing the prisoner.  Asking questions that 

penetrate the heart.  Receiving gifts from the "sinner" and the "other."

Breaking the rules and protocol, for greater good.  

Selfless giving Himself for an ungrateful people.

 Befriending the outcast.  Breaking bread with the one who would betray.

Not revenge seeking.  Peace offering.  Seeker of hearts that are His.

Continual.  Constant.  Without conditions.  

May we find peace, real joy that comes from knowing the One who frees the lost and gives light unto my path.  Embracing that He desires me.  No pretenses.  No frills.  Simple offering of oneself as the sacrifice, trusting in the unknown, unseen parts of this world to be SEEN by the One we call Savior.