Which one of your human traits makes it hardest for you to accept and believe in the miracles and goodness of God? What gets in the way?
Yesterday, much to my dismay, was a very warm and sunny day in central Texas. As I went outside to hang some clothes on the line I could see some of my Christmas decorations had been moved. They were in completely different locations, and I then noticed that the trees were bending in the wind (at least I knew my clothes would dry faster!). We can't see the wind, but we can certainly see and feel the impact that wind has. I looked through many pictures of wind-bent trees and this one stuck with me:
A wide open space, nothing around those Hawthorn trees, but the wind has shaped them. They sink their roots deep into the ground for nourishment and they take what is 'blown' at them and continue to live. I can't see the wind, but I believe in the power and impact it has because I can see the result.
Sometimes those forces that are unseen are so powerful, yet so destructive. Winds so strong that the tree could no longer stand. Perhaps it was because the roots had been compromised from the house and other structures so close by. Or perhaps a combination of the wind, pounding rain, and other things in the area cause the tree to just give way.
Life is like that, for us too. As we wait for this joyous day and remembrance of God sending His Son to us, we either sink our roots deep into the rich soil of that love and hold on and bend - no matter what comes, or we sometimes have that unseen 'wind' of grief, illness, debt, sadness, hate, disappointment and unrealized expectations all crowd in on us at once and in the perfect storm the tree crashes down, with nothing to hold it up anymore.
2 Corinthians 2:7-16 (Paul's message) No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. No one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are not spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. "Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
As you go about this day, many of you are probably hustling and bustling with last minute preparations of the season. Or maybe you are one that is getting lonelier by the day as others are so busy with their plans - ponder for awhile what you have learned about God that is deep in your heart and you know is true but cannot explain rationally. Are you comfortable with truths you cannot explain? What bends you? How do you hold up when the unseen and forceful winds come? If you are one that is toppling over and just can't stand anymore - look at that tree above again (the one bending in the wind) There is a second tree right next to it that is also bent but still holding on. Look around you - where do you see another "bent tree"? Perhaps you can reach out to each other. Or perhaps that other tree you see is the one who is getting ready for church each week while you sit home, you know the struggles in their life yet they seem to be handling them much differently then you. Or even bigger, perhaps your friend appears to be standing tall and strong and faithful, yet there are internal struggles that you know nothing about. Let God reveal His unseen truths to you. Rest in the Mystery that is God and this miraculous birth of Jesus that we celebrate. Without asking for understanding, welcome God. It's ok to not understand what you don't see - simply sit with God and welcome Him in silence.
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