Snapshots.

I don't actually know why I'm writing a blog. If you read Luke's blog you will realize that we are very different people. Today he made the comment that he blogs when he has a well thought-out message to convey in a consistent, comprehensive and lucid post. I blog when I feel the need to be creative...in his words "sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it doesn't". That is true...and I think it sums up our personalities quite nicely. So tonight is a blog that may or may not make sense.This week, in a quest for community, Luke and I made dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies (14 plates full!) to take them to our work places and around to our neighbors and people who serve our apartment complex unceasingly. Unfortunately (I can never spell that word right on the first try...) only four of our neighbors (out of 10) answered their doors. Anybody want a plate of Christmas cookies? We have six left! But it was well worth it, we were met with smiles and excitement and promises of future friends (if we put in the effort, I'm sure). One little kid was so excited about Christmas cookies that he started dancing around in front of the door. It was quite entertaining. All in all I'm glad we met our neighbors, even though we were worried at first. I hope we can get to know them better in the future. (We made gingerbread cookies, chocolate and white chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and brownies for the plates. While Luke was frosting one of the gingerbread cookies with white, whipped icing he started singing "little white gingerbread man, you live a life of privilege and you don't even know it...". It was pretty entertaining.)Today was not the best day I've ever had. My fellowship ends tomorrow and I found out today that the policy job I was hoping to score with Polaris will most likely be given to another fellow. All in all I know that God, therefore, has another plan for my life. I think too often though I just get frustrated when He fosters these passions in me for working towards an end to injustice and then makes me wait to hear how I can actually use my passions for something good. And sometimes I feel like I just get stuck in waiting and wishing that I could just do something. So for now I will be unemployed. After the New Year I plan on finding a part-time volunteer position (as opposed to the full-time volunteer position I've been participating in for the last three months), and applying for jobs part time. I'm frustrated, yes, but willing to work--even if it's free--for the good of others. I guess we'll see.

On a more positive note, I did notice today that if I stand in front of the glass doors on the metro my reflection is eye-level to the lights in the tunnel. Therefore, I imagined today that I could shoot lasers from my eyes the entire way home. It was fairly amusing and I hope to do it more often.

I've been thinking a lot about Jesus and how He came down to earth and all of the circumstances surrounding His birth. This comes right before I plunge into a year long read-through the Bible chronologically study, which means I won't be seriously considering Jesus during my quiet time until next October, or so. I'm always utterly amazed at the different reactions Jesus caused, even in His first days of life:

For shepherds they worshiped something truly amazing and were the first to witness a truly miraculous and world-changing event, something that I'm sure had never happened to them before.
For Herod He caused great fear.
For the Magi He caused a long journey.
For Simeon He caused extreme joy and a fulfilled promise--almost a prophecy for what was to come for many, many more.

One thing our church does during advent and on Christmas Eve is have communion to remind us why Jesus came in the first place. Instead of just celebrating the baby Jesus, we celebrate the life of Jesus, which is really what we should celebrate anyway. Last week Pastor Wong said "Christmas for Christians should be a thanksgiving that Jesus came and fulfilled His purpose and asking God how we can fulfill ours." I think that's a good way of looking at it.

Since we're leaving for North Carolina so early we're going to miss the Christmas pageant at our church, which is sad, because it's the "classic" Christmas Pageant where the little kids just act out the Christmas story with classic carols and Bible passages in between. We did get to peek in on the rehearsal on Sunday though, and it was really beautiful. Since we go to an international church there were kids of all different ethnicities in the manger scene. While I know the original Christmas was not racially different, I think it still makes Jesus smile to see a diverse group of children celebrating His birth together. Not only that, but these kids are ridiculously cute, so they just make you smile anyways.

For unto us a Child is born, y'all. Unto us a Child is given. He is Christ the LORD. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. He is the root and the offspring of David. The Bright and Morning Star.

I find it amazing how much I need those words. How much we need those words. How much the world needs those words. And think about how relevant they are.

Now when therapy is a huge trend (I'm not knocking it, I'm in therapy too).
Where earthly fathers are absent, abusive or emotionally unavailable.
Where war is rampant and corrupt governments are found pretty much everywhere.
Where a good and perfect being of righteousness and justice is desperately needed to make things right once and for all.

These words, written so long ago, are still so very comforting and necessary and longed for.

And He will be for all people.