OK, a couple things before I start: My husband is so cute and smart. I loved that post about Google Maps. Also, I love Christmas. I was feeling pretty stressed and insecure when I wrote that last post of mine, but there's no changing the fact that I love Christmas desperately.
Glad that's said. Now, for the real post...
Which is related to loving Christmas. I got an email today with some Scripture in it. I don't read the Bible much, honestly. I don't know if it's the language or the confusing parts or the layers upon layers of context that escape me or the fact that it's not chronological which is kind of annoying, but I don't. But there is one story that I love and never get tired of, and it hits me square in the gut every time - the Christmas story.
My favorite thing about it is what it tells us about God. He sees that there is a distance between him and people, a disconnect. People are struggling with all sorts of problems, both caused by their own selfishness and also caused by circumstances out of their control. Bottom line: The world is broken. So he decides to leave heaven or the spiritual realm or wherever it is that God lives, and come here to earth to intervene and bring hope and help and a life-giving way of life, and to let people know once and for all that they are OK with him.
So the first thing that is so mind-blowing is that God doesn't stay out there somewhere in the cosmos - he comes here. Emmanuel - "God with us."
Then, he comes in the most underwhelming way possible. He chooses to come as a helpless, fussy baby, born to a poor woman who isn't even married yet, who's on the road, who can't even find a warm bed. She and her fiance end up in a barn, which smells like animal excrement and is cold and dirty. Their families and friends are far away; they're all alone. There are no midwives or doctors around to help them. She gives birth in this place, which is a messy, dangerous, painful process, and there is no bath to wash her or the child, and there is no cushioned cradle in which to lay him or fresh baby clothes to dress him in. So they find some scraps to wrap him in, and then she places him in the feed trough.
Seriously!
I've got to tell you, I wrestle with this whole Christianity thing all the time. The church sometimes drives me nuts. The Christian culture and assumptions often make me feel uncomfortable. Etc. But Jesus breaks my heart in half.
People were expecting a dashing warrior king to come and save them from the oppressive Roman empire with a powerful sword. The wise men, searching for Jesus, went straight to the reigning Jewish king, assuming that's where the Messiah would be. Nope. He's in a stinky, dark cave with some cows and donkeys. And who does God announce this incredible news to - that he's here, among us? Shepherds. Working men with little status or money. And who does he reveal his guiding star to? Wealthy foreign astrologists. It's so bizarre, so upside-down, but it somehow makes sense.
God's actions indicate that he came for the broken, the lonely - the average, everyday person just trying to get by, and he came for the seekers - those who know there is more to find and it's worth searching for. God's choices suggest that he likes surprises, he's impossibly humble, and his priorities are backwards - in a good way. He doesn't care about appearances, and he sometimes chooses to work through difficult situations so that he will be enough. And the nativity shows that he trusts us, people, to participate in the story he's writing.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
TRUE DAT, DOUBLE TRUE
I've been bored at work this week. Not bored, as in I have nothing to do, but bored as in I would rather be anywhere else. Christmas-break-itis? Probably.
In the wake of my boredom, I started playing around with customized Google Maps. Samberg was right, Google Maps are the best. I've come up with my first cut at a hiking loop that I really enjoy up in the southwest Smokey Mountains. The high point of the trip is sitting on top of Gregory Bald and being able to see for miles around. The loop is about ~20 miles and can easily be done in two nights. Google Maps allowed me to put custom markers on the map (with details on each), but unfortunately, I wasn't able to trace the exact trail. You probably can and I just haven't figured it out. So, for your enjoyment:
In the wake of my boredom, I started playing around with customized Google Maps. Samberg was right, Google Maps are the best. I've come up with my first cut at a hiking loop that I really enjoy up in the southwest Smokey Mountains. The high point of the trip is sitting on top of Gregory Bald and being able to see for miles around. The loop is about ~20 miles and can easily be done in two nights. Google Maps allowed me to put custom markers on the map (with details on each), but unfortunately, I wasn't able to trace the exact trail. You probably can and I just haven't figured it out. So, for your enjoyment:
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