I tread lightly and whisper it softly, breath warming frost nipped air gathering on the tip of my nose, that we misunderstood Jesus. You may have seen this facebook status, in which I finally let loose convictions, and then I decided to allow God to use my fingertips to say what's in the heart, here, in this journal that I am so grateful you stop by and read.
We misunderstood when he said to preach the gospel, because the gospel is pure, needs no added modern cliches, nor does it need our version of the truth added to it.
He only called us to love, and His gospel is beautiful if we just stick to it, steadfast and unflinching. Love is the hardest of all.
Our opinions come easy, and He's asked us to lay them down and carry his cross.
I stand in a line in the cold to get some toys my girls asked for on sale. I wiggle my legs back and forth, trying to stay warm, my jeans and boots betraying me. I keep wondering if I rub the fabric briskly together, would it help, but then I'd look like an idiot, my legs and knees knocking ferociously together. So I wiggle my legs, looking as dignified as I can manage. And I shiver head to toe, all the emotion quivering inside of me. I'm so mixed up with questions, and ask myself what I'm doing in this line. Should toys be important at Christmas?
Should I let my six year old believe that Santa is bringing them on Christmas morning, as she desires to?
Advent can be a slippery thing. I want to hold it firmly in my grasp, make it work for me. But it wafts in and out of my days, elusive. I don't know what is wrong with me. I can't seem to figure out how I'm supposed to be going about this month.
Here's the really hard question: does it truly matter how we celebrate Christmas?
I walk through the doors of Wal Mart, and after shopping for six, I don't have much left, but with burning cheeks, I drop some change into the red metal box, and tell the gentleman it isn't much but it's all I've got. He takes his ear buds out and pulls them from around his bundled up garb and he tells me he doesn't need my dollar bills; it's the pennies and nickles and dimes that make the difference for people who had a fire destroy their home and need the basics, or for little children who don't have coats or toys for Christmas. I peer right past his black skin, look into his eyes, and see gentleness there. There are hard lines in his face, but they only tell a story of experience because there is a lot of care in the crevices.
He tells me that he stands there for hours, and he sees people walk by and smirk his direction, as if they're agitated someone is asking them for money. He tells me we shouldn't judge someone in need, because we never know when *we* will be that person, and we will need help. We exchange a couple of stories, wish one another a merry christmas, and then we are off to stuff the back of the SUV full of food.
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photo credit
The gentleman, he continues to silently shake his bell. He doesn't say a word, just keeps doing what he believes is right.
Does Christ need us to shout his name at Christmas? Keep the Christ in Christmas. Keep the Christ in Christmas, we say.
I think of him silent when he turns over the tables in the temple, silent when he stands before Pilot.
I'm at my friend, Diane Bailey's blog today. Please follow me over there for the rest of this Christmas story?
photo credit
What this link-up is about: We "write out spirit" by practicing writing about the invisible using concrete words. In case you are going "what in the world is a concrete word?!"--this just means (using the prompt to inspire) write out what's around us--concrete words make the senses come alive, gives place. In every story, there is always an above and beneath, a beside, something tucked away, aromas in the air, something calling in the trees or from the street, notes in our pocket, rocks in our shoes, sand between our toes. Go here to see Amber's take on this. It was very helpful to me--I think it will be beneficial for you, too.
A few simple guidelines: 1. Be sure you link up the URL to your Concrete Words
post and not just your blog home page URL.
2. Put a link to this post on your blog so that others
can find their way back here.
3. Try to visit one or two others and encourage their efforts
4. Please write along with us, using concrete words--
and the prompt--Please no entries with how-to's, advertising,
or sponsored posts
5. We connect on twitter with the hashtag #concretewords--
please share so others can join!
Today's prompt is Truth.
**{This link up will run for more than 7 days, until after Christmas, giving you plenty of time to write while you are shopping, cooking, enjoying the holiday with family. I will be taking a long break and will read your stories and highlight one of them on social media on Monday, the 30th. On the 30th, the prompt will be Fire.}
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