We have every reason to despair -- Easter Talk

 WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO DESPAIR

This world for all of its beauty is fallen.

 

If left alone at birth, we die.

 

By the sweat of our brows we fight for food, water, shelter. Without these, we die. 

 

Our bodies though marvelous will fail, will get sick, and will die. 

 

Illness is a certainty. Sadness is a certainty. Inequality is a certainty. 

 

Sin is rampant and glorified, with popular leaders “calling evil good, and good evil”. 

 

All around us evil things happen, assaulting us physically, mentally, and spiritually throughout our entire life.

 

In fact, researchers report despair is on the rise. Recently, U.S. life expectancy began to decline for the first time in nearly a quarter-century, primarily because of what researchers said was death by despair. The report “found that despair has increased across the entire group studied regardless of race, ethnicity, education, and geography.”

 

So, like I said: We have every reason to despair.

 

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YET, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO HOPE, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. 

 

Of the many blessings of Easter, the one that is most powerful to me is hope. Specifically, the Hope of the Ages made possible through the Atonement of Christ. 

 

On this day, many years ago, everything that had or would matter, everything beautiful, lovely, or worth saving hinged on Jesus. The Plan of Salvation, the creation, the prophesies, Christ’s birth, His life, His teachings, His miracles, you, me, your family – none of it mattered if Jesus wasn’t willing to or able to pay the price we celebrate today. 

 

Without Him, we would have every reason to despair. 

 

With Him, we have every reason to Hope. 

 

In his Atonement he became Our Salvation, the Great Savior, the Only Bridgebuilder, the Master Healer. 

 

The price he paid was steep and deeply personal. Each of us had a bounty on our heads that He paid through His Grace and Love. Only he could do it, and only he was willing to do it. 

 

And so, on this Day of Hope I ask: How can the Hope of Israel propel you and me through the despair of this world?

 

Let me share two ways. 

 

FIRST, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO HAVE HOPE IN DEATH.

 

Death is the great equalizer. A poet once said, 

 

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

 

Kings and peasants alike will walk through the valley of death. 

 

The question that rings out is simple, but of eternal importance: “If man die, shall he live again?”

 

On this Easter morning, the answer is emphatically “Yes”.  

 

Martin Luther King Jr. put it this way, “Death is not a period that ends this great sentence of life, but a comma which punctuates it to lofty and higher significance.”

 

Many years ago, on that First Easter, Mary and the other women approached the tomb, walking slowing and in despair. The task: to anoint the dead body of the man they revered and loved. It was dark. Their minds were numb. Their heads ached from lack of sleep or food. In their hands were oils, aloes, and spices to properly care for and prepare his body for a final burial.

 

They walked with heavy hearts, but were met by a herald angel who proclaimed the glorious news, “Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen.” 

 

Because the tomb was empty, we overcome death. 

 

Because the tomb was empty, our lives have meaning. 

 

Because the tomb was empty, we cry out, “Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory?”

 

And so, though death be the shadow which darkens the paths of life, the light of Christ our Savior gives our life and our death meaning. 

 

So, we have hope in death. 

 

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO HOPE IN LIFE. 

 

At the age of accountability, we begin to accumulate sin. Some are small, other great. If sins and spiritual pains were visible on our bodies each of us would appear bruised, beaten, disfigured, and deformed. Yet, because sin is abuse to our spirit, no one sees these wounds, no one knows how you suffer. 

 

And without Christ and His Atonement, you and I would carry these wounds forever. 

 

Because of the Atonement, we can be forgiven. We are promised through the Atonement and gift of repentance that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” 

 

The heaviness and weariness of sin can be removed through the power of the Atonement. 

 

Because we are saved, we can forgive others. The power of the Atonement is multidimensional. Not only can we be forgiven, but we can realize the healing power to forgive others. 

 

I think of a story told by Corrie Ten Boom, a survivor of the horrors of the Holocaust that supports this. This is what she said:

 

“It was in a church in Munich that I saw him. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

 

That's when I saw him. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. The memories came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man.

 

I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent.

 

"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard in there." No, he did not remember me. 

 

"But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. His hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?" 

 

And I stood there, and could not forgive him. 

 

He stood there for many seconds, hand held out, as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. 

 

For I had to do it — I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. 

 

"Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand, I can do that much. You supply the feeling." 

 

And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. 

 

"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart!" 

 

For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then.

 

And so, because of Christ’s Atonement We can forgive.

 

And because we are saved, we can be understood. In the currency of the Atonement, Christ paid the full price. In return for this investment, only he understand us, only He knows our story. The scriptures say it this way:

 

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 

…and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 

Now the Spirit (meaning the Holy Spirit) knoweth all things; NEVERTHELESS the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance.

 

 

He knows us, and that should give us hope. 

 

Sometimes we hear about the Atonement described by three gardens – the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb. 

 

Today, I want to add a Fourth garden.

 

In my mind I think of my final judgement. I see me walking, not in a courtroom, but in a garden. Flowers, trees, and living things surround me. It’s peaceful and quiet. There isn’t a large contingent of people watching me ready to testify for me or against me. It’s just me walking along a path in a garden. 

 

The path in narrow and lies in a straight course. 

 

As I walk I see Christ. 

 

He’s happy to see me, He waves. Even though I’m flawed and failed, he is gentle and welcoming. He emanates love. Between He and I is a gate. 

 

Of that gate, the scriptures say: 

 

“and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employs no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.”

 

There are no servants, it’s just Him and me. And, because he knows me perfectly, He is able to succor me, judge me, and help me. 

 

He knows us, and that gives me hope. 

 

As I said, in our lives we have every reason to despair. But, through Christ we have every reason to hope. 

 

Hope for forgiveness

 

Hope to forgive.

 

Hope for understanding.

 

I want to testify that Christ atoned for us and gave us these gifts. And that’s why in a world of despair, I choose Hope in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Weak things become strong - Talk

 Good morning brothers and sisters, it’s a pleasure to be here. 

Between you and me I’m a little concerned about how this talk will go. For the last two years I’ve taught early morning seminary to a great group of sophomores and juniors. Teaching seminary and speaking in church are pretty different. 

You’re also dressed significantly better – no basketball shorts, yoga pants.

None of you are trying to shovel in breakfast or are studying for a chemistry test. 

I would not expect any of you to try and leave 20 mins early to get a parking spot. 

And none of you look angry to be here or appear that you want to hurt me. 

And finally none of you are falling asleep – yet. I fully expect that to change and do not blame you one bit. 

I was asked today to talk about how we can gain strength in Christ and was given a wonderful talk by Elder Richard G. Scott titled Personal Strength through the Atonement of Christ

In Ether 12:27, we find a beloved verse that goes like this:

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”

This scripture highlights an interesting dichotomy of the Gospel that is also a universal sign of God’s presence – that weak, humble, faithful things, through the power of Christ, can become strong. Not just strong, but powerful. 

As we think about this topic, I’m reminded of a joke from one of my favorite comedians. Like a lot of us he tries to read the scriptures to his son, and is always pleased when the scripture lessons sink in. One day asked his Dad if he could earn money by washing his truck. Seeing that her brother was too small to do the job his sister razzed him and said, “You will never be able to reach the top of that truck, it’s too high”. 

To that the boy responded “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!”

In many ways we are a lot like this little boy. Each day we are confronted with spiritual or physical weaknesses that challenge our faith. As we learn in Ether, these weaknesses are a built in humility engine to drive us to our knees and forward to Christ. Each step closer to God highlights our weaknesses in the light of Christ. But he doesn’t care so much that we have weaknesses, only that we develop the humility and faith necessary to overcome them with Him. Only through His Atonement and Grace can we overcome these weaknesses to become victorious. 

I wanted to share a few examples of real people who have demonstrate this. 

A wonderful example was offered by Elder Richard G. Scott in his October 2013 talk titled Personal Strength through the Atonement of Christ. In this talk he highlights story of the Ammonites and their sons, better known as the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. In this story we’re introduced to a large group of people who have a terrible weakness – they had a massive blood lust and loved to murder and plunder. They were ferocious. If you or I looked on them for a missionary moment, we would think twice. Yet through the Atonement of Christ they experienced a massive change of heart. They were literally transformed from loving to murder to covenanting with God to never take up a weapon again. So committed were they that the buried their weapons in the earth, became pacifists, and were 100% dependent on the Nephites for their protection. In these men and women Christ’s atonement turned their weakness into a strength. 

But years later, as happens to who bear the scars of sin, they were tempted to return. The Nephites were being slaughtered by the Lamanites and needed people to fight. The Ammonites felt a pull in heart to help their brothers and sisters and protectors. The thought entered their collective mind to break the covenant and unleash their fury on the Lamanites.

“Wait”, said Helaman. “What about your sons? They’ve never entered into a covenant. What about them?”

“Our sons”, the parents said. “They’re so young. Untrained. Unproven. They would be slaughtered.”

“Not so” said Helaman. “I will lead them. God will protect them. He knows your weakness. The covenant has promises, and he will provide a lamb. He will be with them.”

In this moment Helaman knew something that no one else knew – that God had prepared for this moment for years. The Book of Mormon tells us quietly that there were many young men – more than there should have been. Just enough to fight and to turn the tide. In this way, God had been preparing for just such an instance.

And what about their youth and inexperience in battle? Any military leader would say it’s a recipe for disaster. But Helaman was no ordinary leader – he knew that the son’s weaknesses are nothing when God in on your side. He specializes in miracles. He loves taking simple, incomplete, weak things and making them powerful, strong, great. He loves doing the impossible. 

To Helaman they were prepared in the most important way. Their mothers had been teaching them from their youth to love and trust God. Was that enough? It was. 

Although the battles were ferocious and deadly, how many died? None. Can you imagine? None. That doesn’t happen – ever. Not the most skilled, trained, prepared army can walk out of such a battle with zero casualties. Yet this is what happened.

As Helaman said in Alma 57: 26 “And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.”

This story is an outstanding example of how Christ’s atonement and grace can be the difference in helping to make weak things become strong. The people of Ammon had a weakness for violence. He showed them that by partnering with God they would be able to overcome and be victorious without lifting a weapon. 

He also demonstrated that although the sons had weaknesses – their inexperience in battle – that God could make them successful in not just spiritual ways but also physically. Generations were blessed by this demonstration of God’s power. 

I want to share a more personal example. When I was called as a seminary teacher two years ago, between you and me, I was over my head. I was overwhelmed and trying to keep it all together. I remember one night after a long day at work I was working on a lesson my daughter Maddie came in and asked me to play. In frustration I replied “I can’t, I’m doing my seminary lesson.” After realizing the hypocrisy of the statement I kicked myself, repented, asked her to forgive me, and went to play. But between work, family, seminary, and the rest of life’s obligations I was in a tough spot. 

I think it was around March or April when I had enough and offered a prayer to God. It went something like this: “Dear God. I’ve done my best to make it all work together and nothing’s giving. Work is crazy. Family obligations are many. Seminary is taking so much time and energy. I’m not doing any of it right. I can’t quit work and my family is the most important thing to me. There’s not a lot of other fluff to cut. So unless I hear from you I’m resigning from Seminary on Friday.” And that was my prayer. 

My team teacher was out on Thursday and he asked me to teach Hebrews 11. If you haven’t read it in a while, it’s a wonderful chapter about how righteous men and overcame incredible challenges by faith. 

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong…

Have you ever had a scripture hit you in the stomach? That night it happened to me. I realized, or remembered, that my weaknesses were nothing as long as I was using the Atonement in my life. That through Christ’s Atonement my meager offering was enough. The great bridge builder was able to close the gap between what I could offer and what was needed. God didn’t need me to be the best seminary teacher. But he needed me to be a seminary teacher. It wasn’t about my power, or lack thereof, but about His power and His ability to make me strong. My weakness grew that night in an unexpected way.

A last example is my Mom. My mom is a bit on the nutty side, but I love her - flaws and all. 32 years ago my Dad left her, leaving her to raise 7 young kids, from 14 to six months old. I mean no offense to her when I say that she was way over her head. There isn’t really a happy ending either – she struggled for decades as she raised us. She remained weak as to the things of this world. She never finished college, never had a decent job, never was recognized or rewarded, never had any real luxury, never had a companion to help her, never had it easy. Financially she had no real income other than child support and working at the Dairy Queen slinging ice cream. 

So although she never raised a weapon, every day was a battle. She was weak. 

But my mom had what so many parents don’t – she had faith in Christ. She knew she was not raising us alone. And she smartly engaged God for help. 

I remember as a little kid listening to her prayers. I can hear them now. They were so simple and direct, almost like speaking to revered friend. 

She made sure we never missed church. Ever. Month after month, year after year she piled our motley crew of seven little kids into an old beat up, used missionary reject Ford Escort and drove us to Church. We didn’t even have seat belts – we just piled into on each other’s laps and off we went. Year after year she drove us to early morning seminary. If you think Seattle is depressing in the winter, try the backwaters of Michigan. But, 5 days a week for 20 years she made that journey. 

The lack of worldly knowledge. The overwhelming lack of money and resources. Her utter loneliness in raising our family. All were all major weaknesses. But she knew something that the world doesn’t know - that through Christ and his Atonement her small efforts could produce great results. Weak things became strong. 

There is real power in the Atonement that can become active in your life if we will humbly and faithfully go to Christ. It can help us raise our families. It can help us in our careers. It can help us with our insecurities. It can make our enemies flee. It can elevate us. It can nourish us. It can become transformative.

I’ve shared some examples and want to conclude with one final example.

During WWII there was a woman named Corrie Ten Boom who lived in the Netherlands. She and her family did something brave, courageous, and risky – they helped Jews escape the threat of the Nazis. It was their Christian obligation to do it, and they did so at great risk.

Sadly, an informer alerted the Nazis of their work and Corrie, her sister Betsie, and her father were all sent to concentration camps. The conditions that they underwent were horrendous. They are documented in a book called the Hiding Place. She and her sister had a small Bible that helped them through that dark time, and they learned firsthand of God, his Son, and the power of Christ’s atonement. Of her family only Corrie walked out alive. 

When the war was over she traveled and gave sermons. During one such sermon the following happened. She said, 

“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.” He said. “To think that, as you say, Jesus has washed my sins away!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”

My hope today is that through some of these examples each of us has a renewed hope in the strength that we can receive through the Atonement. And so like any power source, it is not fully active until we plug in. Brothers and Sisters: it is time to Power Up with the Atonement. Only by being 100% charged will we be able to survive the challenges ahead.  

I testify, hope, and pray that this may be the case for each of us in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Talk on Baptism - Ruby

 Ruby, I want to recognize what a great step you’ve made today. Even though you’re little today, this decision will have rippling effects throughout the years. 

Today I’ve been asked to speak about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is a great honor. 

Our lives are like a long journey to a faraway land. Today you’ve begun your journey, Ruby. Today you have entered through the gates of Baptism. You are officially on your journey. These are your first steps in following Christ. He is simply and utterly thrilled that you have made this decision, as are all of us here who support you.

Jesus knew that the journey would be hard. It is dangerous. We can fail. He knew this because when we took upon Him our sins and weaknesses, he learned what it would be like to be you, me, or anyone else. He understands us better than we know ourselves. And so he knew we would need help. 

He knew we’d be tempted to take different paths – some exciting, some dangerous. 

He knew we would meet people who would tempt us make bad decisions.

He knew we would be alone and sad and that we would long for a friend or our home.

He knew we may even question whether we should have ever gone on this journey at all. 

Knowing this, Christ has given us the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He is our companion. This is a supreme Gift to help us on our way. A light to guide us when all other lights go out. 

We are taught that “the Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, a separate and distinct member of the Godhead. He is a witness or testifier of the power of God, the divinity of Christ, and the truth of the restored gospel.”

Regarding this Gift Jesus said:

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name – He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”

We are taught that “The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel.

He “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches “the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). We can receive a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our spirit carries far more important and certain than any communication we can receive through our natural senses.

As we strive to stay on the path that leads to eternal life, the Holy Ghost can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger.

A lot of times we talk about how the Holy Ghost feels – some describe it as a warm feeling. Others describe it as a burning in your heart. As a newly baptized member of the Church who will now have the Holy Ghost throughout your life, I want to share some of what I’ve learned about how to recognize it in your life. I’m significantly older than you, and I yet I am still learning myself. 

One way to recognize the Holy Ghost is to watch for the fruits of the Spirit in our lives - things that bloom when the Spirit is with us. The apostle Paul said: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” In other words, having the Holy Ghost in your life will produce good fruit. The Holy Ghost will make you a better person than you would otherwise be. It will help you develop Christ-like qualities.

I want to add to this list based on my own experience.

The Holy Ghost can help us feel happy, calm, and comforted. 

It can help us be confident and strong.

It can help us feel lighter. 

The Holy Ghost can help you be smarter and make your mind clearer. 

You feel a love for others and for the Lord. 

You are more forgiving.

You want to serve others.

You will be comforted through difficult times. 

Unfortunately, another way we learn to recognize the Spirit is by understanding how we feel when he is not with us. When we sin, we push him away. This can happen when we surround ourselves with bad people or things. Each of us in this room has had this experience of not being worthy of having the Holy Ghost as our companion. And in these moments we feel different. We feel unhappy. Heavy. Dark. Empty. Defensive. The Holy Ghost leaves in this instance not because he doesn’t love us, but because he cannot stand with us, because he can’t stand sin. However, each of us can also repent and in this way, draw closer to him.

Imagine Christ is the chalkboard and we are the magnet. Christ doesn’t move. He’s always there. As we do what we should, we are naturally drawn to him. The power of the Holy Ghost becomes more apparent the closer we move towards him. It’s easier to feel. When we sin we pull ourselves from him, we the power weakens. Notice too that Christ hasn’t moved at all. It is our decision whether we use this power or not.

We are reminded of our responsibility each week when we partake of the sacrament. In the prayer we promise to take the name of Christ on us. We promise to always remember Him. And we promise to keep his commandments which he has given us. In return, He promises that we’ll always have His Spirit to be with us. It is a wonderful deal for us.  

At the end of the day, the question is: why do we need the Holy Ghost. Why is this Gift important? As I said at the beginning we are all on a journey. Each of us has a path we must follow. Each journey will be different. Sometimes life is easy, sometimes it’s hard. But each and every path is leading us to the same place. 

As our companion the Holy Ghost will helps us on our journey. Along the way He will work on us. He’ll make us pure. That’s why receiving the Holy Ghost is sometimes referred to as a Baptism of Fire. Fire makes things clean and pure. 

In the same way, the Holy Ghost will mold and shape us to become more like our Savior. Each day as we press forward with Him he will help us get ready for that day when we arrive at a new set of gates. These gates will be very different from the ones we originally entered. Through the gates I imagine there is a beautiful white city. It’s royal and beautiful. It’s massive. Clean. Holy. It’s beyond description. God is the King there. He intends each of us to find our way to Him. These are the gates of the Kingdom of God, and here we will be instructed how to become more like him. Here we will rest with Him forever.

Ruby, in a minute you will have hands placed on your head and you’ll be conferred a member of the Church and will be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is your gift to enjoy forever. It is better than any gift we can receive. Over time you will develop an increased understanding of the Holy Ghost in your life and will be so eternally grateful for your Father in Heaven, for his Goodness and Mercy.

BEAR MY TESTIMONY

A Christmas Talk

 This Christmas season I have seen a vision. Not a real one, but one that I have conjured in my mind. 

The vision is from a long, long time ago. I am trying to remember it now. I was there and you were too. Here’s what I see.  

I see a small stable. 

Inside is a destitute family. The mother is worn from a long journey and bent over by the baby growing inside her. Her faithful husband, with hands that are hard and calloused and dirty, tries to soften the space for her. He acts as the pillar of strength in a dark, dark stable. 

It is hard to see. Light flickers from a few torches and candles. The penetrating darkness is so foreign to you and me; we live in a world of almost constant light. I try to make out what’s happening but my eyes struggle in the dark. 

The smell is not foul, but earthy from new hay and animals. The smell might be off for you and me, but it is the most common thing in the world to this family. 

You know the figures and their names. Mary and Joseph. There are others present – we do not know the names of those who attend to Mary, but they are good women. 

The stillness and quiet of the night are something we are strangers to, with our constant noise and commotion. But the stable it is so still, except for the small movements and noises of the animals who share this space. 

The baby is born. The sound of the first cry cuts through the night. If you’ve held a newborn in your arms, you know the sound – it is so desperate but so beautiful too. Life begins. 

Like all births it is messy. It is difficult. The pain borne by Mary as she delivers the yet unnamed baby, with no antiseptic, no pain killers, no epidermal, not even an aspirin – well, it’s as nature intended. But it is not pretty.

I can’t see the delivery, that’s private. Even Joseph has left. Not because he doesn’t love Mary, but because he is no help here. The women have taken over. Space is at a premium. But the women - they have all the experience and are there for the young Mary and her firstborn son. 

She holds the baby. He is simply perfect. The pain and suffering she has endured make way for the relief of holding his healthy, little self. He is cleaned and presented in cloth given by the women to keep him warm. 

She thinks, “He is Perfect!” She counts ten fingers and toes. She kisses his small tufted dark hair. She feels his warmth. 

He cries from the shock of it all. He has just come from a safe, warm, and comfortable place – fed and nourished by His Mother for the last nine months. The world he enters is dark. It is cold. It is hard. 

You and I know him as our Savior. He is here to bring light in the darkness, warmth to the cold heart, sanctuary to the hardship of life. His mission, which he will fulfill, is to bring hope to all.

But for now, he is just a baby without a name. Like so many babies before and after him. Just a baby. 

To his mother, he is her everything. She nestles him close to her, partly for warmth and comfort, mostly because she loves him with all her heart. She knows who he is and why he is here. She remembers what she’s been told. She has pondered the experiences she’s had, and she knows He is special. But tonight, he is hers. And she is in love.

The baby cries and coos and wriggles. She speaks softly to him. “My baby boy. My little baby boy. I love you, my boy. You are perfect to me. Can you hear me? Do you know me? I am your mother and you, my son.” The voice is familiar to him. He’s heard it these last months. It sounds different yet comforting. He sleeps.

That’s the vision I have tried to see this Christmas.

I love Christmas. The beauty of this season has so many layers. So many grand designs. Angels and stars, heavenly hosts and prophesies fulfilled. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.  

But the means and manner of His birth are in themselves witnesses of God’s hand. God is sometimes hard to understand. His Son born in these most humble of conditions. It doesn’t make sense. Folks of lesser title and importance have had it much, much better. 

Yet, if you know God’s methods this is precisely the way he works. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. It is his calling card if you will. And few have had a start as small and simple as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Today is December 26. I hope you have all had a very Merry Christmas. 

But starting today things will change. The holiday lights will start to be turned off. The music will change. The jolliness of the season will diminish. 

Yet, the hope of this first night – the night when the journey of the Atonement began – can remain with us if we let it. In fact, nothing is more important. 

This is the invitation to push aside the fatigue, frustration, and cynicism that wreak havoc that surround our lives. Make room in your life, your heart, and your mind for Christ. He is the hope of all nations, born for us. 

I love Jesus and hope you find him more in your life in the days and years to come.