A place for the tree

Somehow impossibly this month, the house was decorated, gifts were purchased, and (shocker), our Christmas cards were actually mailed BEFORE Christmas.

I have been buried alive by some editing work that had to be finished before the end of the year.  Far too many important things were pushed to the sidelines, including Nightlytea,  to accommodate this act of restoration.  A long long story is woven in that adventure.  But yesterday afternoon, the last line was edited, submitted, and tied with a bow. I'm ready to enjoy Christmas.

Last evening, over long-simmering soup made by my gracious husband, there was talk of Christmas trees -- what fits and where to put them.  Coming from New York City, where every square inch of living space multi-tasks, one of our daughters remarked, "You always have to move something to have room for the tree."  In her tiny urban apartment, she had to adjust and rearrange to accommodate even her tiny prelit tree, which stands proudly this season on her windowsill.

In all that reorienting, the light greets her in the darkness of the evening. And it shines brightly through the window, uncontained. Light of any sort in every grace and kindness pushes back the shadows and gloom.

Our daughter's words kept echoing through my thoughts as I made dough for the family gingerbread creations to commence construction this evening.

"You always have to move something to have room for the tree."

When Christ dwells in us, He is not relegated to the back room.  He is not a guest, but He lives in our midst. And that changes everything.  He doesn't just redecorate. He lives here.  He makes all things new.  The love of Christ moves the furniture around, removes what we have been stumbling over, redeems all things, and the Light of the world incredibly dwells with us. 

As in the Christmas story, there was no room in the Inn for the savior.  What do I need to reorient, adjust and move, not for a tree in my living room, but make room for Him in my heart and in my life?

 "For lo,
            I come
    and I will dwell in the midst of you," says the LORD.

                                         Zechariah 2. 10

And nothing will ever be the same.

Getting ready for Christmas
             is just a reminder,
not for a season,
          nor an event,
but Immanuel,
                    God with us.