Manger Throne නියැදිය

There’s a danger in the chaos of Christmas. Often, the important gets obscured by the urgent.

I’ve experienced what it does in my own life. In the adrenaline fueled rush of getting it all done, I become terribly self-centered and self-focused. I hate when that happens . . . but it happens. I wonder how many times I’ve missed divine appointments and holy moments because I couldn’t get my eyes off my own agenda to simply look around and notice people who were just an arm’s length away.

I’m sobered by thinking of the innkeeper. Frantic with blankets to pull out, food to serve, people to tend to, a doorbell that keeps ringing, someone that’s too hot, someone that’s too cold, the growing noise of too many people crowded into too few rooms . . . chaos! I don’t know his heart. Maybe offering shelter in the stable out back was an act of mercy or maybe it was callous – I don’t know.

But I do imagine that because of the weight of all he was carrying and the demands he was juggling, the urgent and insignificant most likely dulled him to the important. How awesome it might have been for him if He had been recorded in Scripture as the guy who gave up his bedroom to Mary and Joseph and having grabbed a blanket went outside to sleep in the stable.

(Prayer)

God who I don’t want to miss,

Please calm my soul. Settle my spirit.

I trust in this season, You are moving. You are ordaining holy encounters for me. You are bringing people with needs right before my eyes. You are planning to gift me with moments of great joy as I am focused and attentive to the needs of others . . . strangers, neighbors, people at work . . . and most of all my own family. Help me to let lesser things go so as to focus on what is important – loving You and loving others.

Amen.