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Fellowship across time
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Third Day of Christmas
1 John 1:1-3
What was from the beginning … what we have touched with our hands concerns the Word of life. For the life was made visible … and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
The twelve days of Christmas extend ahead of us. Today three French hens remind me to rest. Of course I feel frustrated, exhausted, impatient and even self-righteous, standing in the midst of a crowd of humanity which mostly feels the same way. Advent isn’t quiet or peaceful when I invest in the month-long energy of shopping, gifting, acquiring, entertaining and being entertained. There’s only a short time to get it all done. Got to keep going.
I invest in that energy year after year. But our two backyard hens (not French as far as I know) call me to their way of life, resting at twilight and rising at dawn, clucking contented most of the time, laying an egg or two in the afternoon. They love mung bean sprouts more than anything else we feed them. They run back and forth as fast as they can in their pen when Margaret comes outside. They are hoping for some mung beans.
Not so unusual, really, that I feel closer to “the beginning” as I touch the chickens with my hands. John’s “life made visible” seems nearer and more permanent; I rest in fellowship with God as I rest my brain and talk nonsense to Henrietta and her friend. They are not so conscious of the passing of time as I am, and in their presence I forget too.
Just be here now, Dave. Like Henrietta. Be in the presence of God, relax, step in time with no thought beyond the stepping. The fellowship you cherish and crave is here, right here, to be had.
Blessed hope and source of life, Lord your face shines and mine shines too. Nothing can separate us, nothing can harm us on all your holy mountain.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1322
