The Sacrifice

Opening a page from the past.

I stood watching from the kitchen door, knowing I wanted no part of it. Mother was gathering materials to wash my hair. Like a pet wary of a bath I knew the routine and arrayed myself to resist.

She placed a clean, white folded towel on the drainboard, opened the cabinet door and took out the shampoo bottle and set it down. The liquid inside was pearly green and on the outside were letters I understood: P-R-E-L-L. I had asked Mother once to use HALO, certain it had power to produce shiny ringlets like Sydney’s, the prettiest girl in class at school. But she told me it was ‘too high.’

Before she could open her mouth and say, “C'mon honey, let’s get that dirty head scrubbed,” I started to whimper and edge away. She glided over and swirled me up.

“It hurts!” I was well into waterworks now, and kicking.

“Oh, it doesn’t hurt that much!” Now she was transporting me across the room.

“Yes, it does, it pulls! Your fingernails scra-a-a-atch!” I struggled but not too violently as I was under authority.

I tobogganed from her grasp onto the drainboard by the sink. My bottom made contact with the cold counter-top; my legs flopped against the wood door beneath.

She pushed my head back, “No!!” and stretched me out, “Puleeze!!”

Lamb for the slaughter.

Paradox of God

Have you ever given thought to, or viewed God and/or the things of God with an eye to discover a bit of paradox? I have in the past at various times, but it seems lately He is placing this concoction of confectionery before me almost daily, saying, “Here try one!” or “How about this kind?”

Some years ago now, I first read Philip Yancey’s book, “The Jesus I Never Knew.” In it each chapter is prologued with a quote from a famous person, one being from Napoleon where he begins, “Everything in Christ astonishes me. . .”

The proclamation itself astonished me! Because while I had chronicled many wonderful things about Jesus, astonishment, or surprise had never been one of them. I guess I must have been awfully stodgy back then, but that is the profane truth.

In the ten or more years that have passed since that time I have learned to count on Jesus' surprises. He has never disenchanted me. Sheer numbers, paradoxes in Himself unveiled, are one of the mechanisms He employs to amaze.

The paradox of strength in weakness has been a recent confounding of mine. At church I opted for a ladies bible study with the dubious title, “Confident Weakness.” The springboard scripture, II Cor.12: 9, was like a Russian nesting doll in reverse. For example inside one babushka named "Weak Christian" might have been another called "Strong Savior." Each revelation became more glorious than the previous.

But then last Sunday the buzzword came flying at me again, this time from Pastor’s Christmas sermon. Hearing his comments on the great paradox of the Incarnation, I began to recognize a pattern. “The Lord is trying to tell me something,” I said in my spirit; and I began riffling through mental archives.

What a throng came swooping down! Scriptures, passages, and persons from the Old and New Testaments. Parables and principles. Attributes of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. And I feel certain there are hundreds, probably thousands more in the stands, watching. I delight to share but a few.

Paradox I, and so forth:

If you want to have a lot of faith, have a little.

“. . . assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Matt 17:20

If you want to save your life, lose it.

"He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 10:39.

If you want to be strong, be weak.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me,” II Cor. 12:9

If you want to be master, be servant.

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matt. 23:11-12

If you would be rich, be poor. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:3

If you desire to rejoice, be sad.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt. 5:4

If you want to be full, be hungry.

“Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:7

If you want to slay a giant, call a child.

“And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." I Sam 17:33

“Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. I Sam 17:49

If you have a sacrifice to ignite, pour water on it.

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” Elijah before the priests of Baal in I Kings 18:38

For want of paper I leave this last as summation of all former. If you crave to hear a word from the Almighty, listen for the still, small voice.

“Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1Kings 19:11-13

Epiphany for all Seasons

This is an updated, renamed version of "My Christmas Wish." I submit it with many thanks to one who took time for helpful critiquing.

The ladies were a small group, but deeply affected. Word had reached them that yet another famine was rampaging in East Africa. And though the wretchedness raged far away, yet it seemed to the women right there in front of their faces every hour. How they yearned to go there and minister to the people! But the little band had few resources and they knew there wasn’t much time. These people were starving. They needed immediate help.

I don’t remember myriad details; I do know the ladies set themselves to pray. And I know that God answered their prayers in part by providing travel arrangements, possibly free passage on a multi-purpose cargo steamer or other type ship. However, the primary goal to provide food and medicine to make available to the sufferers failed of its consequence in the time allotted. In spite of this the ladies made their decision to move forward, leaning upon the Lord’s will. Why He chose to send them empty-handed they didn’t understand just yet, but certain they were that He would reveal all in His good time. If not in this life, in the next. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and look not to your own understanding." Nevertheless their hearts remained burdened throughout their voyage.

At last the day came for de-boarding at a foreign port and the travel-worn company made their way to the appointed meeting place. That they were months late and supplies short weighed heavy upon them. How they dreaded the blow that was bound to cloud their reception! After all, these folk had been through so many hardships already. How could they stand up to one more disappointment?

As the mission group had feared, famine and disease devoured too many. The signs of this lay all around. Still, a hopeful, small flock gathered to the pilgrims that day. When the would-be benefactors mingled tears with their apologies, "Chakula, dawa! La! we’ve no food to offer you, no medicine!" the tentative thrust in Swahili hit its aim. And when black arms enfolded their more pallid counterparts, it seemed weeping must reach universal mass.

But it was not as one might suppose. African tears had a wholly different source. Theirs had erupted not from grief, but from gratitude, "You came! You gladdened us with your presence! It is of most importance. Because you come to us, so far! Just to see us, to be with us! We know your heart is truly in love with us!"

For weeks afterwards, the ladies were stunned at such generosity of spirit! But were they not, after all, His handmaidens, and as such given to much contemplation upon His mysterious ways? Could it be the Lord was here revealing a vault of wisdom? Hard though the lesson might be in terms of human suffering, had the Master sensed a need for honing in the tools at His workbench?

Like Mary and Martha of Bethany - losing then regaining their brother - the women eventually came to see they had needed to lose something, in order that a better something might be gained. While the westerners were grieving empty hands, their African neighbors had already, instinctively, apprehended a greater excellence. What more unfathomable love was described for these than that someone was willing to leave their homes and come so far, expend so much just to be with them, to participate in their predicament!

What I see here is a solid match for the heavenly pattern. But before we go there, I would like to preface by restating something said in an earlier paragraph. We may not fully understand in our lifetime the reason for human suffering or why God allows certain tragedies to take place in our world. But we can know with Abraham, "Will not the Lord of all the earth do right?" Yes, He will! With all my heart I believe that all will come clear when we see Him face to face.

And now for the heavenly epiphany we can glean thus far. When the Lord came to us that first Christmas, His journey tapped so much more than mere furlongs in space. With His coming alone He taught us so many things: about heart, about stooping, about bridging, and about His Presence. Though it was with all the elements of salvation encapsulated in one tiny frame that He arrived, Jesus employed a mighty leap to do it. What a descent He took from glory, power, and majesty - into human flesh!

And so it is with this in mind, I offer a Christmas prayer to share,

"Lord, enlighten me as you did the missionary ladies; gladden my heart as you did my dear African brothers and sisters. With the central and elemental goodness of Your coming, consume me in every season! For yes, I know You came a man of sorrows and to suffer. And yes, I know You came to die. I know You came that my sin might blister Your sinless being! I know that for a thousand reasons, You came; and for those thousand reasons, I love You! But please, before I hymn of nails piercing tiny feet, allow me to stand here and gaze awhile at You, this little baby Jesus in the manger, who came so far."

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Poem - The Cottage

I’d like to live in a stone cottage some day,
And keep house like a maiden aunt:
There’d be lots of arches and corner niches:
And in every window, a plant.

My garden would grow right up to the stoop,
With paths going nowhere at all:
And a bench, and a pond, and a bath for birds,
And creatures great, and small.

Inside would be paintings of ships in storms,
And a rowboat with oars, at the shore:
And a gray cat would curl in front of the hearth
And a tabby tom crouched 'neath a chair.

My floors I would cover with rugs I had hooked,
My tables embroider with lace,
And beeswax and candles and tins of tea
Would be ever so nice in this place.

My bed would stand high, way high off the floor;
It’s the kind that I’ve always wanted:
And when I’d lie there I’d look up at the stars
Out a window strategically slanted.

On its shelf each sheet would be folded neat
With lavender tucked inside,
And pillowslips starched and pressed and stashed
And tea towels stacked beside.

In my larder you’d see e’er so bounteous a lot:
I would stock it with wonderful things:
With crackers and noodles and Parmesan cheese
And tomatoes and sausage rings,

And a crock for cookies and one for butter
And a basket of bagels and biscuits
To say nothing of pickles and apples and herbs:
There’s really too much there to mention.

One thing though that I’d like you to know,
When writing of cottage perfection,
That first must come prayer, possessions behind -
When finding one’s true satisfaction.

So I’ll pray for you and you pray for me,
For foes and the wide world outside,
For people beyond mere stone cottage walls. . .

-and if they all show up at my door I shall invite them right on in!