“…and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23
…had I known
I’ve been asked several times since my arrival in Cameroon, “But if you had really known what it was like here, would you have come?” It’s an interesting question to think about. Had I been aware of how often we’d be living without water and electricity, how dusty and cold our house would be, how “cut off” from the world we’d be, would I have come? Many times, we think it would have been nice to know a little more ahead of time, to prepare, to bring with us a few more items to make our life more enjoyable.
…He knew
The God who is with us, who left the perfection of heaven knowingly and willingly, to live in our dusty, dirty world has gained my respect in a new way this season. When I think of all the little luxuries I long for, I wonder what it is that Jesus longed for as he lived in our world. Did He miss the immediacy of being with the Father? Did he cry over the dirtiness of his temporary habitat, the constant sinfulness he faced each day? He stepped into our world, knowingly giving up perfection, and he didn’t quit or go home early. He didn’t bring anything along to make life more comfortable in our world. He didn’t leave the job half done. Thirty-three years, without a home assignment, without a sabbatical. No colleague who really understood. Not even the appearance of great results to keep him motivated. How did He do it? How amazing that He didn’t give up on us and go home.
…with us
Our answer is yes, we would have come. We’re thankful that we didn’t come empty handed – our suitcases, most of them eventually arrived. We’re glad for family who filled ten boxes and sent them via sea container to make our life more comfortable. And we were really thrilled to go pick up those ten boxes, cleared through customs and delivered to a near-by hospital yesterday. What fun to put Christmas presents under the tree! What joy to give Sarah a few new outfits to wear instead of the two sets she’s been alternating between each day since July. All the stuff adds pleasure to our lives, but the only way we remain content, is with the knowledge that the God who authored incarnation, is with us still. Immanuel knows what it’s like to live in a foreign, sinful, dirty place. He understands what it’s like to live far from home and to long for it. And He knows the pleasure of going home one day. This is the day we truly long for – not just back stateside, but for our permanent home, with Immanuel forever.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Frame
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
…the frame
A few years ago, I taught a Christmas lesson. The visuals included a frame made up of all the “trimmings” of the holidays (cookies, trees, Santa, bells, church, candles) and a beautiful picture of the manger in the center. What does a frame do for a painting? Perhaps the right frame, chosen correctly, enhances the picture itself. Perhaps the frame helps the picture fit in to a setting. Or on occasion, we blunder by choosing a frame that is so elaborate, the frame draws more attention than the picture itself. Has the frame changed the work of art? No, the purpose of the frame is to show that the painting is a masterpiece, finished, beautiful, and worthy to receive the attention it deserves, to draw attention to the picture itself.
Our celebration of Christmas this year in Cameroon reminds me of this lesson. Our frame for the celebration of the advent of Jesus is simpler than it has ever been. Lights? Haven’t seen any, except for the beautiful stars each night. Candles? Plenty of these, especially when the electricity is out – all one shape and size, all white, and no dripless version available. Christmas programs to attend? No “Nutcracker” this year, like we were able to see in Tallinn. No Sunday school presentation for our children to participate in. No piano lessons this year, so no recital to go to. The girls don’t dance in a national dance group here like they did in Estonia, so no dance performances to dress for and drive to. No chance to hear the “Messiah.” What about snow? Surely we don’t expect a white Christmas this year, although Brian keeps threatening to sift flour over our yard or tape white poster paper to our windows just for effect. We do, however, have a fireplace that doesn’t smoke if we build the fire properly in the back left corner. In fact, we enjoy its coziness. Gifts? Nothing to buy that interests our children. If the sea container with gifts purchased by my folks in August doesn’t clear customs in the next few days, we won’t have gifts to put under the tree for the first time ever. Advent calendars with chocolate to count down the days? Sorry, kids, not an option this year. The drive to Grandma’s house? Definitely not doable this year either. But we look forward to seeing everyone again next Christmas.
What makes up our simple frame this year? First, we collect green stuff. Cypress branches are easily available and last for about 2 weeks in water. Besides that, they are beautiful. A tree, definitely the Charlie Brown version, also cypress, stands in our living room. The branches look lovely, but the tree looks a bit gangly, especially with no lights, no garland, and no ornaments. We plan to come up with our very own handmade paper, cookie, popcorn, and fruit solutions for the decorations. Second, we make treats. Although not gingerbread, we bake brown sugar cut-outs and a few other traditional treats with our available supplies. We also celebrate two European traditions that we’ve picked up in the last ten years: St. Nicholas Day with animal shaped rolls, oranges and peanuts; and the elves who come each night to leave a treat in our children’s slippers as they do in Estonia (the treats are a bit monotonous, but we haven’t heard any complaints) have located us in Cameroon. Thirdly, we listen to Christmas music. We appreciate this real piece of home – no adaptation on this one. And lastly, we created a very simple advent wreath with our one-size-fits-all candles. It is lovely and colleagues lent us a book with readings from Scripture for us to read each day and a short program for us to do as a family each Sunday.
…the masterpiece
With our severely limited options, we have had an amazingly simple December this year. No programs fill up our calendars. No stores entice us to shop and spend. Our simple framework has provided abundant time to ponder the Masterpiece. Isn’t He beautiful? Our Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God comforts us when we long for home, guides us and reveals himself to us through his word. Our Everlasting Father reminds us of his presence in our lives each day. The Prince of Peace has given us peace with God and helps us to be content with how he has provided for us this year. Emmanuel is indeed with us. A simple frame merits some thought for the future. Perhaps our understanding of the Perfect Work of Art has been enhanced more than ever in the simplicity of it all.
…the frame
A few years ago, I taught a Christmas lesson. The visuals included a frame made up of all the “trimmings” of the holidays (cookies, trees, Santa, bells, church, candles) and a beautiful picture of the manger in the center. What does a frame do for a painting? Perhaps the right frame, chosen correctly, enhances the picture itself. Perhaps the frame helps the picture fit in to a setting. Or on occasion, we blunder by choosing a frame that is so elaborate, the frame draws more attention than the picture itself. Has the frame changed the work of art? No, the purpose of the frame is to show that the painting is a masterpiece, finished, beautiful, and worthy to receive the attention it deserves, to draw attention to the picture itself.
Our celebration of Christmas this year in Cameroon reminds me of this lesson. Our frame for the celebration of the advent of Jesus is simpler than it has ever been. Lights? Haven’t seen any, except for the beautiful stars each night. Candles? Plenty of these, especially when the electricity is out – all one shape and size, all white, and no dripless version available. Christmas programs to attend? No “Nutcracker” this year, like we were able to see in Tallinn. No Sunday school presentation for our children to participate in. No piano lessons this year, so no recital to go to. The girls don’t dance in a national dance group here like they did in Estonia, so no dance performances to dress for and drive to. No chance to hear the “Messiah.” What about snow? Surely we don’t expect a white Christmas this year, although Brian keeps threatening to sift flour over our yard or tape white poster paper to our windows just for effect. We do, however, have a fireplace that doesn’t smoke if we build the fire properly in the back left corner. In fact, we enjoy its coziness. Gifts? Nothing to buy that interests our children. If the sea container with gifts purchased by my folks in August doesn’t clear customs in the next few days, we won’t have gifts to put under the tree for the first time ever. Advent calendars with chocolate to count down the days? Sorry, kids, not an option this year. The drive to Grandma’s house? Definitely not doable this year either. But we look forward to seeing everyone again next Christmas.
What makes up our simple frame this year? First, we collect green stuff. Cypress branches are easily available and last for about 2 weeks in water. Besides that, they are beautiful. A tree, definitely the Charlie Brown version, also cypress, stands in our living room. The branches look lovely, but the tree looks a bit gangly, especially with no lights, no garland, and no ornaments. We plan to come up with our very own handmade paper, cookie, popcorn, and fruit solutions for the decorations. Second, we make treats. Although not gingerbread, we bake brown sugar cut-outs and a few other traditional treats with our available supplies. We also celebrate two European traditions that we’ve picked up in the last ten years: St. Nicholas Day with animal shaped rolls, oranges and peanuts; and the elves who come each night to leave a treat in our children’s slippers as they do in Estonia (the treats are a bit monotonous, but we haven’t heard any complaints) have located us in Cameroon. Thirdly, we listen to Christmas music. We appreciate this real piece of home – no adaptation on this one. And lastly, we created a very simple advent wreath with our one-size-fits-all candles. It is lovely and colleagues lent us a book with readings from Scripture for us to read each day and a short program for us to do as a family each Sunday.
…the masterpiece
With our severely limited options, we have had an amazingly simple December this year. No programs fill up our calendars. No stores entice us to shop and spend. Our simple framework has provided abundant time to ponder the Masterpiece. Isn’t He beautiful? Our Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God comforts us when we long for home, guides us and reveals himself to us through his word. Our Everlasting Father reminds us of his presence in our lives each day. The Prince of Peace has given us peace with God and helps us to be content with how he has provided for us this year. Emmanuel is indeed with us. A simple frame merits some thought for the future. Perhaps our understanding of the Perfect Work of Art has been enhanced more than ever in the simplicity of it all.
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