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Hubby and I had a lovely walk this morning in the freshly fallen snow; it's not as bitterly cold as it was when we first arrived, and now that we have (mostly) recovered from our long journey, we are ready to enjoy our break from the routine.
It was lovely and peaceful outside, as it was early enough that not many yet were out and about. My parents live on the edge of town, so a walker has some nice views of the hills and of snow covered fields while still being able to take advantage of the sidewalk.
A tradition in my family is for the youngest to read on Christmas Eve the tale of Christ's birth from Luke Chapter 2. My niece had the honored position as reader and it was a joy to listen to her. Interestingly enough, I found myself wishing I could hear the passage read in Urdu, the language we spoke in Pakistan. That passage, along with some of the other passages that mean a lot to me, are especially fascinating to contemplate in that language, particularly at this time of year!
There is a word in Urdu -- majism -- which means something like "become flesh". Ma means "the one who" and jism means "body" -- literally, "the one who is body/flesh." The word is used in the Urdu translation of the Bible to refer to Christ as God made flesh. Yet there are shades of meaning in that word that don't quite translate into English. For me, it is a word that truly seems to capture in a single word (as much as it is possible to capture such a concept) the meaning of the infinite God limiting Himself and entering the world as a child, in order to make it possible for me to find peace. That's what I celebrate at Christmastime, the time when that embodiment is traditionally remembered -- the first part of that greater celebration of the Passion that comes at Eastertime.
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:6-8
However you celebrate the day or the season, I pray that each one of you -- my dearest friends -- will find a peace that surpasses understanding, which will stay with you every day of the year.
Blessings to you and your loved ones this Christmas season!
It was lovely and peaceful outside, as it was early enough that not many yet were out and about. My parents live on the edge of town, so a walker has some nice views of the hills and of snow covered fields while still being able to take advantage of the sidewalk.
A tradition in my family is for the youngest to read on Christmas Eve the tale of Christ's birth from Luke Chapter 2. My niece had the honored position as reader and it was a joy to listen to her. Interestingly enough, I found myself wishing I could hear the passage read in Urdu, the language we spoke in Pakistan. That passage, along with some of the other passages that mean a lot to me, are especially fascinating to contemplate in that language, particularly at this time of year!
There is a word in Urdu -- majism -- which means something like "become flesh". Ma means "the one who" and jism means "body" -- literally, "the one who is body/flesh." The word is used in the Urdu translation of the Bible to refer to Christ as God made flesh. Yet there are shades of meaning in that word that don't quite translate into English. For me, it is a word that truly seems to capture in a single word (as much as it is possible to capture such a concept) the meaning of the infinite God limiting Himself and entering the world as a child, in order to make it possible for me to find peace. That's what I celebrate at Christmastime, the time when that embodiment is traditionally remembered -- the first part of that greater celebration of the Passion that comes at Eastertime.
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:6-8
However you celebrate the day or the season, I pray that each one of you -- my dearest friends -- will find a peace that surpasses understanding, which will stay with you every day of the year.
Blessings to you and your loved ones this Christmas season!
