I am sitting here on my couch in my parent's warm home, snuggled up next to my dog with a hot cup of amaretto coffee on Christmas afternoon. The vacation has been really, really, special. It is my first vacation as a non-resident of 21 Essex Avenue in South Hamilton Massachusetts. So Christmas is different, but still very much the same.
In a lot of my blogs, so far, I have either told a story or just shared my thoughts. This one, however is going to be written on the spot... meaning, whatever I am thinking at the moment is going to appear on your screen.
It just hit me how much I haven't appreciated the people in my life, until recently, specifically, this past October when I left for Off The Wall ministries in Ohio. Two days ago, I was on a train by my self, headed for Boston. I was going to see 7 of my friends from the Compass program. (This past summer I spent 1 month with 26 youth from all around New England hiking mountains, taking seminary courses, and teaching children English in Costa Rica, all the while learning more about life and following Jesus.) As I was staring out the window, seeing the harbors of the Atlantic pass by I got a very depressed feeling. Now I like being alone, but I am realizing I much prefer the company of people that I love. I am learning that I could go on adventure after adventure to the four corners of the Earth, but if I am not with people dearest to my heart to share the experience with, then the experience is only an experience, not a memory. I feel like to define something as a memory, it must be an experience that is shared.
So as I was on that train, I started thinking about my friends who were awaiting my arrival in Boston. And I got really, really, excited. But the reason I got excited was not that they were just my friends, but they were by brothers and sisters in Christ. I call a lot of my friends brother or sister, but I never actually stop to sit down and think about what that actually means. It blows my mind that my closest friends, are not just my friends, but through Christ's blood, have become by spiritual family. Took look into the eyes and call someone 'brother' or 'sister' knowing that their heart has been captivated by the same Savior that has captivated mine.... that is an indescribable joy that only God could think up. (And He did)
Well I am going to have to sign off. My parents are taking my sister and I on a walk to strawberry hill, a now snow covered marsh that's shores kiss waves of the Atlantic.
So on this Christmas day, I wish you joy and peace in abundance. I pray that you are filled with awe and wonder at the mention of the name of the King, who, about 2000 years ago, lay in a manger as a helpless babe. (historians think Jesus was actually born in March, but that is beside the point)
Remember our Lord today and everyday. His birth, life, death, and resurrection.
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:8-14
JN
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