Held

The lights are dim

and the air musk-heavy.

It's quiet

all but the soft shuffling of

animals settling for the night.

What if I am here,

right here,

in this stable,

with this little Family

knowing what I know now?

Knowing already this Child.

not just the Infant,

but the Risen Jesus.

And not just His story,

but Him,

because of how much we've been through 

together.

And what if, in this moment,

I can't take my eyes off that Baby.

And from behind

Someone comes up

put His hands on my shoulders,

tenderly

and asks,

"Would you like to hold the Baby?"

 

The Ceasing of Sad Divisions

I'm still on the whole thing about carol lyrics that could pass by too quickly if I'm not paying attention. Often as not, it's what sneaks in by the third or fourth verse, less known, but making them more compelling because of their slight obscurity perhaps.

1. O come, Desire of nations, bind

1. In one the hearts of all mankind;

1. Bid all our sad divisions cease,

1. And be Thyself our King of Peace.

1. (O Come, O Come Emmanuel)
2. Immediately, I'm thinking of all the wars and rumours of wars that plague our planet right now.  The atrocities of war.  The senselessness of it all.  So big, all that.  Peace on earth.  Yes, come Emmanuel and heal all the wars.  Nations against nations.  Make it stop.
3. But I realize I don't have to go so broadly into all that before I meet up with sad divisions.  Just mention the name of a political leader, use a word you had no idea no longer means what you thought it meant, or ask the wrong question at the wrong time, and suddenly the dividing lines are all too apparent.   
4. Or talk about who is and is not welcome at Christmas dinner.  Navigate the treacherous roads of unforgiveness stored up and unsorted in time for the holidays.  Sad divisions indeed.  Smaller scale, for sure.  But huge in the hearts of those facing them.
5. And...then...
6. Where does conflict begin anyways?  Where does it end?
7. So I can pray for world peace.  But it strikes me that I'd better first be inviting the Desire of Nations into my own heart, to bind it to the hearts of my brothers and sisters.  Especially those with whom I strongly disagree.  
8. Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments.  These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers.  They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.    
9. 2 Timothy 2:23-25
10. It needs to be said here that some divisions are all the more sad because they are necessary for personal safety.  The ceasings of some of that sadness isn't humanly possible, and will require the reconciliation of all things at the end of time before they are able to once again be free to be one heart.  This is I know to be true.  And it makes me all the more aware of how badly things can go wrong, and all the more keen to sing the invitation for Emmanuel to come to heal.  
11. Gladly, I have had several good and true opportunities for open dialogue and informative listening these past months, on a number of touchy, but important issues.  I've learned a lot.  I've also experienced the surprising joy when relationships that have gone horribly south somehow find their way home again.
12. It's making me even more determined and protective of the Bride of Christ, to have us stay unified, loving, focused on mission and not anything else.  To make the main thing the main thing.  Gathered around the manger.  

I guess the opposite of sad divisions is glad reunions.

1. Yes, Lord.  Come.  
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. 
   

Glory Laid By

The carols are so familiar, I'd miss the oomph if I wasn't careful.

On Sunday, it was "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and the phrase "Mild, He lays His glory by."

It's such an outrageous part of the story, really. That God, very God, the same God that spoke everything into being, the same God that is all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere, would chose, in this way, to stuff Himself into time and space, and come down to us...as a baby!

Not as a mighty warrior, or stately king. Not as a superstar or political leader or any other iteration of power.

But as a baby. Helpless. Mild.

I don't have to go too far to bump into the wonder of this. All it takes for me is for someone to, oh say dismiss my Master's degree because it didn't come from the 'right' school. Or call me the 'token woman' on a leadership team. Or mistake me for the secretary when I was the pastor. Or, let's face it, given the right circumstances, I can be less than "mild" if someone cuts me off in traffic.

You might have your own list. The common denominator in all of it is that somehow we feel our 'importance' has been demeaned, or our 'rights' have not been respected, and how dare they?

Mild, He lays His glory by.

In what is considered to likely be one of the first hymns of the early Church, we find these oomph-filled words.

"Who being in very nature God
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to His own advantage.
Rather, He made Himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness."
Philippians 2:6-7

Mild, He lays His glory by.

So now I've gone and done it. Pretty sure the day is going to be filled with opportunities to lay any little bits of glory by.

Okay, bring it on.
Let's see where the mildness takes me.

Unless the Lord

A few folks have asked for a bit of an update on our house build so here are some pictures as of Sunday afternoon.

Ken was my model to help get an idea of size. The porch, especially, is much bigger than I anticipated, even though it completely complies with our design measurements. There's an overhang right at the front to make for a pleasant place to sit in good weather. And also along the side so we can stay dry unloading groceries or just simply getting into the house.

Inside things also feel bigger than anticipated. We're pretty sure it's because the two main space-making design features we asked for, those being the vaulted ceiling and the longer, then extra windows at the peak, are doing exactly what we hoped for. Our humble 625 square feet look and feel like a lot more.

Yesterday we were able to do a re-measuring of the kitchen space and are feeling more and more confident of the decision to forego a built-in cupboard plan and assemble an 'eclectic' country kitchen out of furniture we already own, enhanced by a few purchased features. Going for a farm-style apron sink and a butcherblock style counter. I'm especially happy that we have the perfect spot for the antique tea trolley that will not only add to the ambiance, but be quite pragmatic in its ability to open up to a small table.

It's kind of hard to get a sense of the bathroom in pictures at this point. Especially with the sink covered up to protect it from the construction that still has to be done in there. But it, too, is bigger than I expected. Those mirrored doors open up to a recessed medicine cupboard, also designed on purpose, to reclaim some empty space between the walls.

I hope the pictures give a sense of how bright it is. All of this was taken with no lights on (electricity should be in by end of the week) and on a dull day. And I include here a shot out the front kitchen window, just to give a perspective of our placement on the property and the proximity to our son David's house.

Today is a loud and messy day. They are coming into the existing house with a jack hammer to dig through the cement in the basement and make the plumbing connections with the city lines. I have escaped to the church to work for at least the morning.

And so. Right now. Despite the delays last spring when our house on Blythwood didn't sell as quickly as we'd hoped, and then other important check points seemed delayed, at this point in the game things are moving along quite quickly. We are still being given a January 11 possession date, and even holding that loosely. Anything can happen during a construction project. Still, it's great to be able to go in almost any time we want to...and measure and plan and dream.

Because of our 'front row seat' advantage, I frequently go down to the double glass doors and just stand and watch the contractors do their thing. And I pray over our home.

I pray Psalm 127:1-2 over our home.

"Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labour in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat --

for He grants sleep to those He loves."

There's a whole lot more in just those two verses than I'll unpack here, the reference to anxious work notwithstanding. For right now, let's just say that these are good words for me to ruminate on in this ongoing experience of trusting God's timing and purpose when it comes to something as basic as where you lay your head at night.

On, then, into the week ahead.
Loving where this Advent is taking me.
Happy Monday all.

The Wild Yes

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.

"May it be to me as you have said."

Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38

"When Joseph woke up,

he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him

and took Mary home as his wife."

Matthew 1:24

I'm looking for a nativity set right now. For all my Christmas decor (currently put away in bins) this centerpiece of Advent worship is missing. I've been hoping, that if I find one this season, I can set it up on a quiet shelf and let it say what it needs to say to me.

But I'm having a hard time finding one that will do that.

This one pictured is lovely, and set just so with the lights and such. I love the adoring expressions on the faces. But it's not mine, and it's not exactly the rustic-real depiction I'm going for.

I'm picky about this.

I doubt I'm going to find exactly what I'm looking for, but the reality is that, parental adoration notwithstanding, I imagine Mary and Joseph's faces to be more anxious. As in "What in heaven's name have we gotten ourselves into?"

Months ago now, they both said yes to something so unbelievable people, well, didn't believe them. Even Joseph, at first. It took visits from angels to convince them.

How outrageous!

To be tasked with bringing the Messiah to the world. To be asked to nurture the redemptive arch of God's ultimate ethic. To lay aside their own plans for a tidy, unassuming life together, and instead embark on a journey that would see them being chased by a crazed monarch, and landing as refugees in a place far from home. And that was just the beginning.

Of course they didn't know all that in detail when they said their yeses. But, come on, the barging in of the angel would have been a fairly big clue that they were saying yes to something with a high disruption risk.

I admire their courage. And they inspire me, both of them. They set a standard for me. I want a similar story to be written into my own life. Saying yes, and seeing where it takes me.

Saying yes to the impossible task of bringing the Messiah to the world. Of nurturing the redemptive arch of God's ultimate ethic. To lay aside my own plans for a tidy, unassuming life, and stepping boldly out into all that the yes requires. To say the yes that makes me ask, "What in heaven's name have I gotten myself into?"

I'll keep looking for my nativity set.
If not for this year, for next when, Lord willing, we'll be all settled into our new little house.
I think it will go on the mantle.

A Giving-Tuesday Thank You

A generous person will prosper;

those who refresh others

with themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

"Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.  The idea caught on, and has grown around the world, inspiring hundreds of millions or people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity."  

https://www.givingtuesday.ca

Just wanted to put it out there that I am one hundred percent convinced that generosity is alive and well on our planet!!

And on this Giving Tuesday, all I want to say is Thank You.

My role as Missionary in Residence at Highview Community Church gives me the inside scoop on just how sacrificially and beautifully you set aside your own benefits in order to help make sure others have what they need.  I see this in financial donations, for sure!  The dedication and consistency with which orphans and widows in far away places on the planet receive your gifts is truly remarkable and deeply good.  So are the offerings of time and talent, energy and attention, given in every community effort when we come together on their behalf.  

I'm glad enough for one day dedicated to generosity.  But also, I see it happening every single day.  

You know who you are.

So, on this Giving Tuesday, my prayer over you is directly from Proverbs 11:25.

That because of your wide open hands and heart, you will prosper in all the ways that are truly important (which is far more than materially for sure).  And that you will be refreshed and encouraged in the knowledge that everything you have given in secret is not hidden from God.

Gratefully,

Ruth Anne

Waking Up to Winter

I've made it in to work at the church for the morning. The drive wasn't too bad at all, if you just take your time.

My reward was being greeted by our trees here, who all seem excited to show off their winter bling. So pretty.

Now I'm all tucked into this little office space, ready to take on the day and begin to tackle my list for the week. It's a surprisingly robust list, in spite of December's usual 'lighter' load, work-wise.

I don't mind. Jet lag is all but done with me, and this is a good opportunity to get at all those things that you never get time for but now there's a little time for. Plus, this first week of December is the last week of all the meetings that need to happen before we're all full on into Christmas and can't really focus on much else.

So here's to the first full week in December, and the snow that welcomes us into it.
Here's to quiet, happy, snowy trees.
Here's to meaningful engagement in life in all its abundance.

Merry Monday, everyone!