A New Twist?
It’s a few days before Thanksgiving. We’ve just lived through another renovation here at home. It’s pretty much done. We’re in holiday mode now. We/I am Christmas decoration crazy. We put up three trees—eight, ten and twelve footers. I’ve always been this way—decorating the tree was a great family occasion when growing up. Each of our trees are full of history and memories. Upstairs is the eight foot southwestern tree. Everything on it is from New Mexico, Arizona or Texas. It’s topped with a leather star we found in Red River surrounded with poinsettia blooms (Mexican). The dining room tree is the fanciest with decorations from trips all over. Putting it together is to recall places and people with fond memories. Then, the great room twelve foot tree is the fun tree. Takes a day to just add all the extra lights which include four sets of Shiny Bright Bubble lights just like were on our tree when I was a kid (still am). Then it is decorated with dozens of Hallmark ornaments that sing, dance and perform in all sorts of ways. Putting batteries in all those every year is Jeannie’s job. Strings of fake candy and lots of other fun, memorable decorations finish it off. The bells I made in Cub Scouts from an egg carton are up there too.
But in the midst of all this preparation I’ve been wondering— is there a new twist on this old story as I move into this season for the seventy-fourth time? I know commercially the season is a big money maker. I know it is the time where we are cajoled to think about others, to be kinder, more thoughtful and give to charities. I’m not out to change any of that. I just quietly asked, “God, is there another angle you’d like me to see?”
Yesterday we visited another Sunday school class taught by the associate preacher at church, Mark Price. Mark is a guy who has a BIG sense of humor yet runs pretty deep. It was a small crowd and he’d brought a video by Amy-Jill Levine, the jewish professor of the New Testament at Vanderbilt Divinity School. I’d heard her speak before at the Temple, at a previous church—and also read a couple of her books. I love to listen to her. She brings another perspective to this protestant Christian head of mine offering wonderful insights into Jewish culture and religion that is the background for all I believe. She also brings the players of the Christmas story to life. A teenage girl who’s told she’s going to be mystically pregnant and have a kid that will change everything. Amy told of the surprised father to be, Joseph (the other daddy of Jesus) who was also visited by an ‘angel’ hoping to chill him out over such crazy news. Then there was cousin Elizabeth and her hubby priest, Zachariah, who was struck dumb as a result of his chuckling disbelief over his wife getting pregnant at their age. There is a lot of sci-fi here folks.
But Amy Levine said prepare to be stunned with staggering wonder along this path we call faith. It is the mystical side of faith that offers me hope in this world still torn by war—the very birthplace of three world religions is in flames right now. Our own country is being torn apart by divisive ‘leaders’ who refuse it sit down with one another. A culture of demanding individualism, a ‘ME first’ philosophy that will tear it all down if we let it. Then, there is global warming, still denied by many, that is ushering in a fearful demise—just check out all the apocalyptic ‘entertainment’ out there. Some feel that God will send Jesus back soon so don’t sweat the mess we’ve made of creation. But I thought He’d also said to take care of it?
So, Amy Levine did offer a new twist. She drew us into the midst of Jewish culture and history in a new, old way. A culture right now full of anxiety and war. But long ago there was a couple taking a cheap mode of transportation to a tiny village to be in the count. She was likely already counting contractions as she bounced along on the back of that donkey. All the motels were full, so they were stuck in a back stable with all the smells and such that animals offer. Mary had to be wondering “Is THIS how it was meant to be?
Yes, it was. Into a mess of a world, the Creator bought into our revenge driven thinking that when we’re wronged, someone needs to pay, damit! He conjured up a plan of ultimate payment. He would be the final payment in hopes mankind would listen. But he didn’t do in with armies or hundreds of angels descending, He showed up quietly in a barn.
God joined us, joined me. He drove the distance—and still does in pursuit of each of us. He came to us, Emmanuel, as another Amy’s song says. NOTHING is more powerful than that divine move to me—and Amy-Jill, Jewish prof of the New Testament, reminded me of that.
Prepare to be staggeringly stunned. Faith is like that. It will knock you off your feet onto your face, which is the best place to be with this kind of God.
Edit 2/27/2021