ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
December 24, 2021
When I’m on the stationary bike in the mornings, and I’m not in the mood to read, I will watch National Geographic programs. I am a big fan of a guy named Albert Lin. He uses a lot of high tech scanning in his archeological work to uncover what might be hidden by trees or thick underbrush. One of the things that has caught my attention is his capacity to appear enthusiastic no matter what the find might be. He says, “Wow” or “That’s amazing” more than a dozen times in each program, but never once does it feel false or contrived. There are a limited number of ways of showing awe using language, yet he makes reoccurring words and phrases sound fresh every time. And I think they’re genuine. He loves what he does, and he is amazed at what is discovered. Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and for most of us, we’ve been doing Christmas for a number of years now. Tomorrow, will the “wow” offered for the new slippers be offered with the same enthusiasm and authenticity as the “wow” offered when you were seven years old and opened the toy you dreamed of getting? More importantly, will the story of Christ’s birth bring forth the same intense joy as those shepherds experienced as they walked into the stable and discovered the angel’s announcement was true?
Wow! That’s all I can say, Good and Gracious God. Wow! The story of your love enfleshed is beyond breath-taking, and I only hope my life may reflect this glorious news to the world around me. Amen.
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