The Posada Chain blog moves on, yesterday it resided with Darrell at Dr Platypus, and tomorrow it moves on to Jim Palmers blog- Divine Nobodies but for today it resides here.
Although I am not the first to do so I want to reflect on the journey being taken. On Saturday we had to drive from Norfolk to Hertfordshire ( 80 miles)to collect a courtesy car, mine had been broken into and has been assessed for repairs. I grumbled about the inconvenience and distance and all sorts of other things...
... but a look at this picture and the journey it represents puts all my complaining into perspective...
Heavily pregnant Mary is forced to take a long journey to satisfy the political whims of the Romans - she must travel with Joseph to register. There is nothing romantic about riding on a donkey over rough terrain just before you give birth. She is leaving her home and her support systems, her mother who would have helped with the birth, he community whom she knew, and travelling with Joseph to Bethlehem.
The journey was long and hard for both of them, they could not afford the luxury of stopping at Inns along the way to break the journey up, they simply had to get there.
Were they sustained by angel promises, or did they question God?
Did the prophecy of the Messiahs birth in Bethlehem give them hope, did it carry them on, or were they too consumed with the need to arrive safely to even think on such things? Did they even consider it, or is that a luxury of hindsight?
Why does God work in such strange ways, and through such unlikely people?
The other characters surrounding the nativity are equally unlikely- shepherds who would be seen as outcasts and undesirable, are greeted by angel choirs; foreign astronomers following star charts go looking for Jesus in a palace and are directed to far humbler dwelling!
The ordinary becomes extraordinary as God arrives amongst us...
But before the celebrations overtake us, let us consider the two people two in this picture, how they walked a long and hard road in obedience and faith.
Lord your ways are often confusing to us, you choose unlikely people, and appear in strange places. Grant us the faith of Mary and Joseph, the desire to follow you in obedience. Grant us strength for the hard roads, and peace in our questioning. Help us to trust you as we travel, and bring us safely through our different journeys.
Amen
Follow the whole Posada Journey:
- Mon 4 Dec Chris Munroe aka Desert Pastor.
Tue 5 Dec Jem Clines
Wed 6 Dec Alistair
Thu 7 Dec Lydia
Fri 8 Dec Jennie Swanson
Sat 9 Dec Psalmist
Sun 10 Dec Dr Platypus - Mon 11 Dec Sally Coleman
- Tue 12 Dec Jim Palmer
- Wed 13 Dec Anne Gogh
- Thu 14 Dec Weekend Fisher
- Fri 15 Dec Dave
- Sat 16 Dec John Cooper
- Sun 17 Dec Sue Wallace at Abbess
- Mon 18 Dec Lucas
- Tue 19 Joanna at Keeping Feet
- Wed 20 Adrian at Emerging Church info.
- Thu 21 Ian Mobsy at Mootblog
- Fri 22 Bob Carlton
- Sat 23 Chelley at Chelley's Teapot
