A Divine Mystery

The leaves are lying on the ground like a bunch of dead pancakes and the trees are pointing their boney fingers in my direction as if to suggest I'm the one who is responsible. The air is chilly, lights are going up on the sides of houses, and yesterday Barb and I bought our first Christmas tree together. Though we've been together for 5 years we usually spent Christmas away from our place visiting family in either Missouri or Mississippi. I did the burly work of lugging it into the house and she did the decorating, which is fantasitc. We starred at it all night and over breakfast this morning.

Better yet is the fact that we are hosting a Christmas party later this week. We've invited several people who live around us in an effort to simply know them. As we have made our rounds each one of them has opened their home to us, given us the tour and history of their house. We truly live around some great people. I hope that we are able to build some relationships here, decrease personal isolation and increase community and safety. I'm not saying that one day you'll see in the parade a float named, "The Pride of Felix Avenue."

But even better than that is the very fact of this holiday, that God, who is good and merciful, has taken great lengths to reconcile us, his wayward creation, to himself. He did not desire that we be separated from him, living a life that makes no sense. No, he longed to include us into his own family, so that we may enjoy his grace and benevolent mercy. Therefore, he reconciled us through the giving over of his son, Jesus, to death. He lived a sinless life and in his death he took the punishment and separation from God that should have been eternally ours. Three days later he triumphed over every mortal's foe--death. God credited and still credits to those who would believe, Jesus' perfect deeds. And because of gracious reversal we can live in relationship with our Creator and Redeemer, both in the here and now and in the ever after. This is what the ancients have called the divinum mysterium--a divine mystery.

I find it difficult to articulate such a beautiful and profound truth, so please forgive my short-comings. However, my sincere hope is that during this season would move us all a bit closer to himself and help us understand more of that mystery. Merry Christmas.