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What if Jesus was born a girl-child?
What if the child announced by the angel, promised to a virgin mother, to be named by a dutiful father, surprised everyone on her birthday? Would Joseph still have named her Jesus? or some other name more befitting a girl-child. What is "God-with-us," in the feminine? Surely she would have nursed and cried and toddled, just as a boy-child would. walked, fallen and walked again, just as a boy-child would. run and played, though maybe not so loudly, as a boy-child would. grown in stature and in strength, perhaps even more quickly than a boy-child would. Would she have gained entrance to the Synagogue for teaching and for learning? Would she have been mentored and apprenticed in a trade? Would she have been allowed to forgo marriage to follow her true love calling? If so, then... Would she have been baptized by John at the Jordan? And when she rose out of the water, would the dove descend on her and the voice of heaven say, "This is my daughter, whom I love; with her I am well pleased." Would she then travel the countryside teaching and preaching? Would those who heard then listen to her, accept her, learn from her? -- not such a threat to authorities, this young woman, perhaps they consider her words carefully, acknowledge her wisdom and take up her cause. Following after her, they-- observing how she treated others, seeing the love in her eyes and the smile she gave to each one the hope each one departed, carrying. They might follow her in the way true followers do. Unafraid and unyielding, listening for the voice she listened to honoring the God she gave honor to growing the courage to speak to the Father she spoke to, As she did, they came to do. Would they scorn her, dismiss her, or run her out of town? Certainly not. Daughter of God, we welcome such as these, wish we all could be such as she. Would they would imprison her, stone her, or crucify her? Not a chance. Who would suspect that God would arrive in such a meek, lowly female form? Who indeed? What if Jesus had been born a girl-child? Anything is possible with God.
Holy Crap!
“You don’t actually believe all that crap, do you?”
There is a good bit of historical record from the time of Jesus. Archaeological. Temples. Cities. Edifices. But unlike the way those today would proclaim their King-dem, the life Jesus led would not be signaled in artifact or chiseled into stone. The life Jesus lived is etched in all of time and for all time. It lasts as we last to tell it. It's reborn in us each Christmas. Rediscovered with each birth of new life -- in us -- And renewed with each loving act. Holy crap! What was that? I didn't know I had it in me.
What do Santa and Jesus have in Common?
What do Santa and Jesus have in common?
- children
- sitting on his lap
- asking
- Christmastime
- Saintliness
- the whole world in one night
- led by a light
- Holiday Spirit
- gifts, warmth, kindness, love
- you gotta believe…
or it’s just a story, a myth, long-told. Verses recited with option for annual renewal. Santa and Jesus, they both come again this time of year. Do you believe?
Belief is an amazing thing. When I believe in myself, I am better. When I believe in you, you are better. My belief in you may even help you believe in yourself. Now, that’s magic, isn’t it? Because that is a gift that keeps giving.
How good it is that, year after year, we have the chance to resubscribe to this St Nick of Christmas and to this Jesus of Nazareth. Quite the pair: a jolly old elf who flies through the night on a reindeer-drawn-sleigh and a babe born in a manger, witnessed by shepherds and visited by wise men.
They both bring out the best in us, year after year.
Not so much to do with facts, figures, or catching him in the act. Separate from packages, tinsel and ornaments on the tree. Carols and mistletoe, nice, but not necessary. More about the internal trappings, that intangible stuff no one can quite put a finger on, that impels us toward better.
Kind of like believing.
Merry Christmas, friends.
The Kinesthetic Christian 