When I let my divinely-created imagination run wild, envisioning Jesus of Nazareth saying something like this in 21st century America isn't completely unbelievable. When I read of a Gospel Messiah teaching by fig trees or hanging out in leper communities, using these tangible, visual displays as a context for his life lessons, I can't but help feel a bit of a disconnect. It's difficult to visualize let alone empathize with characters drawing their water for the day at a community well or hanging out around "healing pools" all day. But people putting up Christmas lights? At this time of year? Well, I can identify with that.
We were coasting around the other night with three doe-eyed kiddos in the back seat, enamored by our neighbors' sparkly and inventive holiday-themed yard configurations, clamoring for more once we decided to call it a night. Honestly, I don't care about hanging up lights at my house, but I have to admit, pulling into our driveway I felt a little embarrassed by our simple display of two are three strings.
"Daddy, why don't we have fifty gazillion lights hanging from every crack and crevice of our roof or an elaborately timed light pattern decorating our lawn?"
That may not have been what my kids said, but I could hear it under the sighs they let out as we pulled into our dark garage. The truth is I never thought pulling out and fooling around with the tangled clump of lights was ever worth the time and patience required. My kids are making me think twice.
The kingdom of G-d is like a well-wound string of Christmas lights. At first glance, it may look like a hot mess; however, it is not as difficult as some anticipate. The unwinding is a pleasure. The set up is a joy. The plugging in is the glorious finale. The power source brings life to many.
My children taught me that within this analogy getting to know G-d via his flesh and blood takes on a whole new, abundant-life perspective. Paul says in Ephesians 1:17-20, "I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead."
Lights...depending on how well I wind them up come December 31, I may just be ready to go Andrew Lloyd Webber and take my property to the technicolor level by decking the lawn, door, hedges, driveway, shutters, shed, and gutters come Christmas 2014. It could serve as a reminder of the "overwhelming greatness of God's power and the hope of his call"! Plus my kids'll think it's cool.
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