O Come, Emmanuel

Friday afternoon when K and I were leaving Wal-Mart I could not find my car. I remembered generally where I thought it was, but did not spot it during a quick scan of the parking lot. I started walking while clutching K with my right hand and three bags of spoils with my left.

Because I drive a large Black Yukon XL, I don't typically have any trouble locating it. As K and I walked up and down the aisles hoping to spot the top of my car we encountered kind strangers who remarked sympathetically about having been in similar situations before. I was starting to wonder if my car had been stolen when K, sensing my concern, remarked, "Mama, don't we usually look for the sticker on the back?"

My friend Diana drove by and suggested I click the alarm on my key fob. I reached into my pocket to retrieve my keys and found my husband's...I had completely forgotten I was in his vehicle, not my own.

On the ride home I pondered all of the lessons from that one experience:
1-It did not matter how long and hard I looked, I was searching in vain because I was looking for the wrong thing.
2-I had the key all along, but was too distracted and bogged down in stuff (and busy trusting my own self) to use it.
3- It took someone offering advice from their life experience to help me regain perspective and find what I was really looking for.

This morning as I was getting ready for church I was thinking I need to write a post about these revelations. Then, during the early service God took the point much further.

I feel like I need to preface with two things. First of all, I am not a 'crier' by nature. Motherhood has certainly softened me up a great deal and made the tears more frequent, but it still takes a bit to get them flowing. Second, I attend a fairly buttoned-up, traditional, 175 year old Presbyterian Church. Therefore, the 8:30am worship service is rarely an emotional experience.

This morning, however, as our handbell choir processed in playing "O, Come Emmanuel" I could not stop the tears. As we sang the lyrics, I 'got' an aspect of Advent for the first time.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Jesus was not just a sweet baby born in a manger. He was the promised King who would ransom a captive people. He paid the price with His very life. The Israelites were physically enslaved, but we all have been enslaved to sin throughout our lives. The Israelites needed a rescuer. We need a rescuer.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The birth of Jesus was not just about a one-time overcoming. It provided us with access to a Lord who walks with us through our daily lives. The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe has made Himself available to guide us through this life on Earth. Do we access the mighty gift we have been given, or do we often find ourselves wandering through the parking lots of life trying to simply figure it on on our own?

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

There is turmoil in this world. War, oppressive governments, terrorism, prejudice, divisiveness are just the beginning. People are carrying real hurt within their families and closest relationships. We need a Prince of Peace to bind us up and remind us that we are all in this together.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

I spent some time this afternoon trying to imagine what this world would be like had Jesus never been born. What if Emmanuel had not come to us? I cannot fathom it.

I am so thankful God chose to reveal this to me today. I am excited about celebrating the birth of my Savior with renewed perspective this year. Let's rejoice!

Welcome, Christmas! Welcome, Christ!