Wonder of Christmas

The line to visit with Santa was long.  It stretched and curved and jigged and jagged all the while children ran to and fro, moms stressed, babies cried…it’s Christmas.  I looked at some of the children closest to Santa.  Some were too old to still really believe in Santa Claus, some too young to even know their whereabouts but there was one.  One little girl in her beautifully smocked Christmas dress stood gazing at Santa.  She held her mama’s hand and had her stuffed animal firmly grasped in the other.  Her eyes held wonder, perhaps a little fear but definitely intrigue, yes-even mystery.  She believed.  Her eyes held wonder.

I walked away from that scene with a smile.  How precious!  Additionally, I was visiting with a friend last night and she shared that her grand daughter would be with them on Christmas morning.  I found myself thinking, “Oh, how wonderful that you’ll get to experience Christmas morning with her and through her eyes.  It will be an exciting morning.  One where you wake up early and run to the tree, paper is flying, boxes trampled in the excitement.  The mysterious presents that have long waited are finally opened.  The joy and wonder of Christmas being revealed.”

After these two experiences I begin to ponder whether or not I'd lost the gift of wonder.  Michael Yaconelli describes wonder in his book, Dangerous Wonder, "We have lost the gleam in our eye.  Jesus [birth] no longer chases us in the rugged terrain of our souls.  We have forgotten what it is like to stand speechless in the presence of Jesus, hearts beating wildly, staggered and stunned by what God is doing in our world.  Do not give up.  Dangerous wonder is still possible for us all."

I’m 54 years old and I want my eyes to behold mystery and wonder this Christmas.  I want the mystery of God being born as a Baby to confuse, amaze and bring me to my knees.  How is it possible that a majestic God could or would force Himself from heaven to come to a painful place called Earth and squeeze Himself into the skin and frame of a baby?  If that’s not enough of a mystery add to it that He came for me and you.  I really can’t comprehend or understand such a God.

Perhaps it’s only in realizing His magnificence that we can fully begin to understand the lowly birth into a manger.  Read these words:

At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven 
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. 

When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth, and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.
So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. 

At his direction they swirl around, 
over the face of the whole earth
 to do whatever he commands them.  Do you know how God controls the clouds
 and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? 

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power…Job 37 (selected verses)

The God Job is describing in these words is the same God we celebrate this Christmas.  I challenge you to re-read this scripture about the nature of God.  Read it again today, tomorrow, the next day and the day after…

The mystery is that this all knowing, all wise, all loving, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator, Redeemer was born to us this Christmas.  In all His glory He was born to touch us and to let us touch Him.

What a wonder...What a mystery

Kathy Hayes, 2012