Have you ever noticed how people see what they expect to see?
It's like if you're looking for it you'll find it, kind of thing. You know how some people get to work in the morning and express just how miserably cold it is, while the next person walks in and says, "Today is the sunniest day we've had this week!"
Perhaps there is more truth in "Seek and you shall find," than we realize.
Recently I've been reading "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. During one particular scene of the the story a local man is dialoguing with another man's Chinese servant, Lee.
Well the servant normally speaks in short broken English, or what they call pidgin. Except for this time. During this conversation Lee suddenly breaks out of the slow and broken English and begins discussing with the other man in a fluent manner. The man then inquires as to why Lee always speaks the way he does since his English is actually so good.
"Lee said, 'I know it's hard to believe, but it has happened so often to me and to my friends that we take it for granted. If I should go up to a lady or a gentleman, for instance, and speak as I am doing now, I wouldn't be understood.'
'Why not?'
'Pidgin they expect, and pidgin they'll listen to. But English from me they don't listen to, and so they don't understand it.'
'Can that be possible? How do I understand you?'
'That's why I'm talking to you. You are one of the rare people who can separate your observation from your preconception. You see what is, where most people see what they expect.'"
We often expect so many different things from Christmas every year, don't we? Lots of family time, presents, sweets, games, movies, new toys... and then perhaps we try to squeeze some of "the real meaning" of the season in on Sundays...
The question is though, what is it that your expecting to experience this season? What do you truly desire to see? What are you searching for? Because I bet, at some point, you'll find yourself in the midst of it.
This Christmas, what, or better yet, who are you expecting? Are you expecting more traffic? More travel? Are you expecting it to be filled with quality or quantity family time? Gifts, food, and so on?
Or this Christmas, are you expecting the Living God? Are you expecting the God who is coming to us in millions of unexpected ways?
Are you expecting the Jesus who would even to us come as a child?
May you this season, seek out, look for, expect the coming of our God... if you will expect with an open and humble heart, you will find Him. In countless ways.
Expect the unexpected this Christmas.
Merry Christmas,
~ Caleb
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Culturally Appropriate Giving and Kingdom Living
Recently I was watching a brief segment on one of our few news channels that involved the topic of Who to buy for this Christmas... and What should you buy...
As I began to view this short piece of "news," I realized what was happening here. I was getting the privilege of hearing an "expert" on the issue of Christmas present purchasing!
How enthralling! (to be said in a sarcastic tone)
How enthralling! (to be said in a sarcastic tone)
What struck me is that now we actually have our culture letting us know who its appropriate to give gifts to this season (which apparently involves my babysitter, my mail-carrier, my beautician, my daycare person, and my office assistant) and also what gifts and dollar amounts are socially acceptable... We've really got this down to a science don't we?
So lets take a second and lift the veil to see the issues that are really behind this discussion:
- Christmas has become primarily about consumerism. I'm culturally obligated to give gifts to all these people, and i'm afraid that if I don't they will either be hurt or insulted etc.
- I'm not giving because of some overflowing affection toward these people, i'm giving perhaps then out of guilt, or manipulation, or some other false motive...
Recently, I had someone say to me how they are "so sick of the consumerism of Christmas."
The fact is, we all should be. It should make us sick. It's a sickening thing to think that Americans spend $450,000,000,000 (that's billion) on Christmas every year... and the estimated cost to give clean water to everyone in the world is $20 billion...
It should make us sick to think about children going to bed hungry while other kids are swimming in new toys. Something is disturbingly wrong here.
For too long, the only difference between those who claim to follow Jesus and those who don't during Christmas is that they go to church. This is ridiculous.
Christmas holds so much more hope than this! This season we participate in a story that involves the salvation of the world!
As followers of Jesus we are called to live a life that rescues the world, that brings healing and restoration... not to live in such a way that we consume, take, and fed ourselves with no consideration for our neighbor.
When it came down to it, Jesus gave Himself. This Christmas, lets do the same.
Instead of buying guilty presents this Christmas... or even presents for people you really want to give to. Instead give your time, give yourself. Be creative!
There is great work to be done this season... be part of God's work in the world this Christmas!
-Caleb
Co-Pastor at Kaleo Nashville
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