Mystery

“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” -Brene Brown 

"I do not understand the mystery of grace- only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us." -Anne Lamott 

Today's word is "mystery" and it simply reminds me that while there are some things that I hold to be true about God, I cannot pretend to understand them all. 

I want to remind you of a passage that you know all to well in this Christmas season: 

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The passage above is a very familiar Christmas story that you have heard since you were born, but when I try to read it with fresh eyes as if for the first time, I am drawn to verse 19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  I don't get the sense that she understood everything that was going on, but she found herself there in the wonder and wildness of it all.  

Liam, as you continue to grow in your faith, some things will seem black and white and make perfect sense. However, some things will seem crazy and will seem very very gray.  I am praying that you will be able to wrestle with God through the gray and that like Mary you can find space to embrace the mystery every once in a while.