Atom“New Adventures; New Friends”
“Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth to Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.” Luke 2:4-5
“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is he child who has been born king of the Jews, for we observed his star at its rising?”
Matthew 2:1-2
I reflected with you last month that my take on my Christmas plans as compared to Mary and Joseph’s Christmas plans. I shared with you that it is a a little hard to pick up in the story that they really had a “family reunion” when they went to Bethlehem, even though it was the town of Joseph’s ancestors. It might in fact be that Joseph and Mary had never before been to Bethlehem and didn’t really know any of the “family” there. It may in fact have been a once in a life-time trip that they would never have taken if it had not been for Caesar Augustus and God. Certainly no one was waiting with a guest room for their arrival!
So, I wondered, “Would I risk going to a place I had never been before, meeting people I had never met before, doing things I had never done before, as they did, simply because I believed God was leading?” And then I prayed, “Where, Lord?” as perhaps you did too in your Advent preparations.
This month I am wondering, where has the Lord led you? What new people and situations have you found yourself in where you could be God’s “incarnational presence?”
One new place I found myself was through my son, Bryce. (Kind of like Caesar Augustus directing Joseph and Mary.) After many years of being a basketball player, Bryce “heard the call” to join the wrestling team this year. He is having a great time and learning a lot. So am I! One thing I have learned is that I know very few of the parents and members of this community who attend Wrestling Meets. I have always been a basketball parent, you understand, so at basketball games I knew people and where to sit. Now, I walk into the gym and I know very few if any. Where do I sit? Who can I talk to? I think it is the experience of many who come to worship in our church – or any church – and wonder, “Where do I fit?” But I am finding my way and meeting some very nice people and finding my way into conversations about life and faith with people that I have never talked to before. (I have also discovered that because there are no half-times at wrestling meets and every match flows into the next it is hard to know when to go for coffee.)
God has been showing me a new community and blessing me as I get to know it. I pray that I might be a light in some new way in my interactions. And that you might be a light, too, wherever you are being led.
Shining with you,
Pastor Wade
P.S. Thanks, too for shining your lights into the life of my family during our Advent and Christmas celebrations – your cards and goodies and gifts have been most appreciated. We are blessed to be a part of the Church that is First Lutheran!
Page 1 of 1 comment pages