The sunrises have been beautiful lately. Not to the level of my dad’s painting, but lovely nonetheless with pinks and oranges spreading across the sky. I love to pause and take a moment to soak in God’s creation and his beauty, especially when the sky is painted with his glory.
Today, keep aware for moments of unexpected beauty, and see them as God’s loving gift to you.
My dad has titled this watercolor, “Storm Arriving.” Often we can see a storm rolling in, especially for those living on an island, the clouds taking shape or the dark descending like a blanket.
In life too we sense storms arriving. The concerning lumps and bumps or the worrying images on a scan. The telephone call from loved ones far away, their voices cracking with unwelcome news. The notice of necessary repairs, depleting our bank balances. The disappointments; the betrayals; the relationships that drain.
Jesus told us that in this life we will face troubles. The storm clouds will descend at one point or another. But God through his Son and Spirit promises to be with us, and to comfort us: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This comfort comes via trials we’d rather not experience, from dark times when the light seems illusive.
How have you felt attended to in times of crisis and disappointment?
The polar vortex is hitting the Midwest of America today in force. Schools are cancelled, community events postponed, and even the mail is not being delivered. “Baby, it’s cold out there” is an understatement. Here in the UK, some have enjoyed snow, and some only a dusting (like me in North London). Enjoyed, of course, might be the wrong word if you’re caught in the closure on the M25 or in traffic in other places.
What do you feel about the winter and the colder temperatures and snow? What activities do you engage with on a snow day?
Take a few minutes to walk, with your imagination, into this stark scene painted by my father. Are you viewing it out of a window, or are you there? Who is with you? What do you feel?
We finally had our first snowfall of the winter in London yesterday. Big gloppy chunks of snowflakes, which I knew would melt immediately. I should have forced myself to go out for a walk in it, for that is one of the pleasures in life. But I didn’t, and of course most of it is now gone.
Take a few moments with this picture. Maybe it’ll bring to mind moments of cross-country skiing, like the ones I have of being simultaneously shivering while also sweating. Maybe you’ll want to pause to transplant yourself into the picture, imagining the scenery around you as you take a deep, fresh breath and see the evergreens and the trail in front of you.
What do you see?
Blue January can still be beautiful, right?
Take some time to walk in this painting, imagining that you’re in this atmospheric scene. Are you alone, or is someone with you? What do you sense and feel? Where is God?
Happy Epiphany!
The wise men have made their journey to the toddler Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. I learned a few things today from our youth worker’s sermon – the Western Church believes there were three wise men (because of the three gifts they brought), but the Eastern Church says there were twelve. Our preacher also made the good point that these visitors were the first outsiders to visit Jesus, thus marking the God-Made-Man’s mission to reach everyone in the world with his message of love, grace, and forgiveness.
Thank you for journeying with me through the twelve days of Christmas! I pray you’ll have a blessed and joyous Ephipanytide.
I leave you with a prayer adapted from the Church of England liturgy:
The magi came from the east to worship your Son: Father, grant to Christians everywhere the spirit of adoration.
The infant Christ received gifts of gold, incense and myrrh: Father, accept the offering of our hearts and minds at the beginning of this year.
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ: Father, grant an abundance of peace to your world.
Father, in your unfailing love for us and for all people, hear and answer our prayers through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
On the tenth day of Christmas, some Christian traditions celebrate the naming of Jesus in the temple (other traditions celebrate this on January 1). When the angel appeared to Joseph, he learned what to name the boy, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit:
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV).
The very name of Jesus shows his calling – to save us from our sins.
What names come to mind when you think of Jesus? Here are a few you might want to ponder today, as you celebrate during this season of Christmas:
Which names of Jesus speak to you most powerfully?
Today, on the ninth day of Christmas, it feels countercultural to celebrate the season. Part of me would like to take down the Christmas decorations while cleaning and doing some decluttering. The newness of the year feels like a push toward embracing all things clean and fresh.
So sometimes it feels like a discipline to celebrate and feast. I’m keenly aware of those who are grieving or going through other difficulties, who need God’s grace to get through this season, and are probably finding it hard to celebrate. They may be echoing Psalm 137:4: “How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” If that’s you, I pray you’ll find a hint of celebration through rest and recovery.
For me, as we only have twelve days of Christmas, I’m going to seek to embrace the gift that they are – while doing a bit of decluttering and vacuuming by the Christmas tree.
How are you approaching celebrating on this ninth day?
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Can you remember? Six maids a milking? Geese a laying? An online search says I got it right with the second guess.
My memory for that popular song is murky, just as this point in the Christmas season can feel murky. Many people have taken down their Christmas trees and decorations, ready to move into 2019 with a new purpose. It feels countercultural to keep banging on about the days of Christmas, especially in this messy middle (see the wonderful blog by Amy Young by this name), when the wonder of the first days of Christmas seem long past and the end feels a long way off.
How can you make the sixth day of Christmas feel special?
The paradox of feasting while calling to mind the martyrs of days past continues as we celebrate the life of Thomas Becket on the fifth day of Christmas. He was named Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 by King Henry II, to whom he was a chief minister. Henry hoped that by appointing Thomas as archbishop he would gain control of the church, but Thomas was as zealous for the church as he had been for the state. The king became increasingly incensed over his exclusion from church affairs, so only two years after his appointment, Thomas escaped to France for safety.
Thomas returned to England in 1170, and shortly after, the row intensified even more, with King Henry saying,
“Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?”
With that utterance, four of his knights decided that they’d heard an order to kill Thomas. They did so as Thomas was taking the service of vespers at Canterbury Cathedral.
Thomas was said to be unafraid in the face of death, echoing Jesus’ words to his disciples from Matthew’s gospel:
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28–31).
Here Jesus instructs the twelve as he sends them out to preach the kingdom of God, heal diseases, and drive out demons. We may lose our bodies in this world, he says, but we need to guard against the one who can kill the body and the soul.
Today, let’s join together to pray for those around the world who endure false accusations or bodily harm because of their faith. Lord, have mercy.