Saturday, December 25, 2010

Does The Date Matter?

Today is a day to give thanks for the miraculous birth, life, sacrifice, and triumph of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today is not the only day to do this, but it is the day the world recognizes our wonderful Friend and Redeemer's birth.

Although tradition chooses to make December 25th this day of recognition, history and fact place His divine birth in the spring. For me, the date really doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that it actually happened. He really was born in the meridian of time, when the world was prepared in advance to receive Him. Man may not have received him well, but the earth was ready, and His purposes were ALL fulfilled.

He came to save us from ourselves. We, the stubborn, headstrong, weak (yet falsely believe we are strong), naive (yet believe we are wise), beings who stumble around on this earth.

To me, every day is a day to celebrate His birth, His life, and His ultimate Gift. He gave us His Atonement. He gave us His Redemption. He gave us the ability to bring our broken lives to Him and in return receive His Wholeness and Perfection.

I have made huge mistakes in my life. I have suffered the consequences of those mistakes. I know now that I did not suffer the full weight of those consequences, because His divine love sustained me through those dark times. Were I to have been left alone I would have crushed and disappeared under the burden. But I didn't, because despite my mistakes, His love is stronger than any power of darkness. His love pierces the corners, the crevices, the deep, dark holes in our souls that we try so desperately to hide from and in.

It is in the hiding that we suffer.

It is my prayer for you and for me, that we will open our hearts even more, starting today. That the love of The Man Of Peace will penetrate more deeply, more fully, and more lastingly. That we will allow His love to destroy our hiding places, so that the darkness will find no place to dwell.

I know without doubt or reservation that He lives. I know His power is real, His love is real, and His Peace is real. I also know that following Him is the only real thing I want to do. I know that when I fall off His path, and I do and will again, that His hands are reaching for me to help me stand back up and reconcile with Him yet again.

I know that He loves me, and He loves you.

May He know that I love him back.

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