A shining light for bleak times

I had a chance to watch some...but not all of "The Nativity Story" and as bit's of it were explored in a Sunday morning class. Some talked about the cultural aspects, the turmoil of the times as they were being oppressed and even killed by the romans for just speaking against the government. They were taxed merciliessly, and scrounged for a living while trying to live by the law handed down by God and ministered by the teachers of the day.

I watched...and as the movie went on and as the class kept talking my eyes started to grow moist. I'm hardly one to get emotional, so in the midst of this I'm really fighting back tears. However...there began welling up in my chest to my throat a feeling of sorrow and thankfulness, a sense of awe and wonderment. The movie and it's characterizations of the culture at the present time (and the background music did good portrayal as well) spoke of how God came to us and used a regular man and woman. He came to us lowly, and through the lowly he came to save us all.

The sheer deep impact to our souls of how vast this importance is - that the Creator Almighty who rules the stars and galaxies would come appear as an illegitimate child in the womb of a young virgin who's forced to trust in the Lord and the mercy of her new husband. That her husband would protect her from the shame foisted on them from their neighbors. When the child was born that the shepherds were first allowed to pay homage is a sweet savor for anyone who thinks their job is meaningless.

In this day at the end of the year where jobs are getting scarce, the nations are in financial tumult and people are fearing for what the future will have for us - there's a light that still shines in bleak times. It beams down through the halls of time from that star that guided the wise men who sought Him and comes down to us now in these hours of need. If we look for Him in it we will see the shadow of a cross that gives life to those who choose Him and his promise of a better life to come.

May the light that shines from that day invade the dark cages of bleakness and despair that so easily entangles us... let it give us hope and cheer this season because of the mercy and boundless love in a faithful God shown through His sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior and dear friend, Christ Jesus.

God bless us all, every one.