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December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas: The Holiday of the Divine Surprise


Greetings, Goomba denizens. Here's hoping you and yours make time to enjoy this holiday season. Congress has gone home now. Can a brother get an "Amen?!!?"

One of the reasons I have always loved Christmas is that is requires the world -- believers and unbelievers alike -- to stop for a moment and acknowledge the Babe of Bethlehem. It's a day when most of us seem to know the courteous and respectful thing to do. And -- unless we're the NBA that goes about business as usual -- we all pause, yes, some of us even seem to rise out of respect as Jesus enters the room to get some of His due.

Whether Christian or not, we sense there's a magic to this time of year. The winter snow, the lights, the old songs that endure, the people we love, the longing for tradition and the glue that makes life worth living ... all draw us to Christmas. We instinctively know that something real is here, something that transcends the traffic, the hurrying, and the presents.

The Christmas Story is far better than fiction. I mean, if you break it down, the birth of the Savior under the circumstances documented in the Bible was one of the most scandalous and improbable events of history. Indeed, Jesus's whole life and ministry was like that, the most riveting page-turner of all time. The account of all of this in and of itself bespeaks of divine authorship.

It seems God loves to surprise. With the capability of thunder, He speaks in a whisper. Though he can win in a rout, He loves to come from behind at the last moment. As the inventor of hope, He delights in restoring it when all seems lost. As a King and Ruler, He appears as a lowly babe ... a carpenter, and a servant. No wonder so many missed Him.

Yes, I believe God has a sense of humor and surprise ... and irony ... and plot ... and real purpose. You know, I even think He makes appearances at shopping malls. I mean, if He can land in a manger, all things are possible.

If you have seen the following video, well, take another look and listen. If you have yet to see it, enjoy it and remember that the God of the Universe came on Christmas to our lonely and desolated beachhead here ... at the most improbable time and under the most impossible of circumstances ... on the greatest mission of all time. And, well, the end of the book is even better.

A now, a final word this Christmas ...

Wherever you are tonight, no matter the circumstance or the darkness of the night ... Christmas means there is hope. Your mind may try to rationalize this beautiful truth away, but let it roll over you instead. Christ parachuted into this mess when a solution seemed a galaxy away.

It -- rather He -- was right there before our eyes in swaddling cloths.

What a pleasant surprise indeed.

Merry Christmas and God bless you all.

10 comments:

LL said...

DC & Crew = God bless us every one.

Anonymous said...

Is He real?

How many of us cynics have given our lives to Him?

sig94 said...

DC - thank you for words of encouragement after such a day of betrayal by our elected officials. Truly, God's words and deeds are immutable and stand in such contrast to those of mere men.

Quite Rightly said...

And He shall reign forever and ever.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Christ has been my shepherd throughout the two deadly years of Obama. I fear no evil.

Anonymous said...

Thank-You for these words of encouragement.Merry Christmas and May God Bless you and your family.

King of New York Hacks said...

Indeed he walks among us..Wishing you the Merriest Christmas ever. Peace.
-Edward

RightKlik said...

Amen! Beautiful post. Merry Christmas.

Rhod said...

Eloquent, DC. Infused with the spirit. And I join with you that the scandal and improbability of that event is evidence of its truth.

The vendetta against Christmas here in CT seems to be about lost for the deconstructionists. The substitution of "holiday" for "Christmas" is now nearly gone, except where it makes sense to say "holiday".

Something's happening here, and I don't know what it is - yet, but it's not the reactionary hope and change of the secularists.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Anonymous said...

Thank you all in return for your encouragement and well wishes. You all make me think, laugh, and want to more of the same myself.

That beautiful song (26 Million views of the video) reminds me that He walks among us. He cries, listens, laughs ... and says ... you ain't seen nothing yet.

Merry Christmas. See you in the New Year.