So yesterday I was thinking about the shepherds. You know the ones? Those “In the fields by night” kind of guys. I had to teach kids about them once and to help them appreciate the shepherds position in life we talked about how smelly they would be. I know….not very spiritual….but true. Think how you would smell if you were in the fields outside of town with just big fluffy sheep for companions?
Now some put shepherds in a category of outcasts from society, but others say they are just another group among the poor. Either way, they give us a picture of separation from other people and the normal rhythms of life. To have a big flock, you would need a big area of grass to feed them. Have you ever seen sheep go through a field? And when that field is done, you need to move them to another one. The life of a shepherd was not a normal one of home and family.
So…Why do the angels tell these guys? Was heaven so crazy with excitement that it could not contain the celebration? The party was so wild that the heavens split and the craziness spilled out into the hills of Bethlehem. I don’t know about that, but all I do know is that these were the men who first heard confirmation of this incredible birth. On that night, the angels could not contain the joy of heaven and brought day into night. And they brought it to these men. The outsiders, the humble, the poor single guys who might not have smelled really good.
While my life is nothing like the shepherds, I like their story because sometimes I feel like I am on the outside looking in. I used to hate that feeling, but now I see that it has its advantages. Many times it gives me a different perspective, and I am grateful for that view. Sometimes, like those shepherds I feel like heaven opens up and gives me a view of something other worldly. Something beautiful! Those are the times I am grateful for who God has made me, but I still fight it. It feels lonely sometimes, trying to find a place where you fit. Now don’t get me wrong, I seem to be able to pass through many groups but while I can do that I am never totally comfortable where I am. I guess that seems to be the way God means for it to be, so I try to be content. And when I feel out of sorts about it, I remember the shepherds and the amazing thing that happened to them that day. It was to them that the angels brought the best news of all…..
But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Luke 2:10
So I was thinking, December 1st I would be on it! But…. I missed the date. Ugh! Needless to say, it is all good, since today is officially the start of Advent. Who knew? Well obviously not me.
them. What I do like about puzzles is the what they show……A complete picture. You have all these pieces that go together but they are in such weird shapes, it is not easy to see how everything fits. But they do.
Life is like a puzzle. All the days and everything that happens to you become pieces that are fitted together to create you. How you think, how you feel and how you live.
How do you talk to people? Especially people you don’t agree with? As I was reading, I was struck by two conversations this morning. Two conversations, two different outcomes. Two different questions, with two different intents. And one Jesus.
When the one man heard wisdom in the answer, Jesus said “you are not far from the kingdom of God.” Sounds like a mile marker to me. How the man approached the question and reacted to Jesus’ response, showed something about his heart.
“I gotta live how I say I believe.” It doesn’t roll off the tongue very easily, but it’s something I’ve been saying a lot lately. It’s mainly due to my children and their struggles, or the downright danger they put themselves into. Honestly? Some of it just has to do with me and my response to the world around me.
So what’s the difference between using men or friend? Well, it seems that it’s all about perspective. If I see these men bringing in their friend, that makes sense. They love their friend, and are willing to go out on a limb for him. Or when it comes to me, I can give my friend a picture of who Jesus is, by how I live. Maybe they even think like “cool….tell me more”. But I checked out 5 or 6 different translations and they all just said MEN and it changed my perspective.
It seems to me this is kind of how life works. We’re all in need of healing and could use a little Jesus to do that. Along the way people can come beside us and take a corner to help us get to where we need to be. If we see this story only through the lens of helping a “friend,” then we might miss out on all of the other opportunities God brings our way. Those chances to help people we don’t know, see Jesus.
That’s the plan, and it is way harder to do than it sounds. But you know… ya gotta live how you say you believe!
Is this really a “Study in Pink”? Well I think so. I spoke with this young lady because of her intention of becoming a pediatrician, but was also interested by the stage she is on right now. The Miss America pageant system is going through a transformation. The “beauty” pageant is going away, and there will be more focus on the WHO these ladies are and less on HOW they look. What will that truly look like in the future? Not sure, but today, I know it looks like the accomplished young lady I spoke with a few weeks ago……
She just graduated from UC Santa Cruz, and is studying for the MCAT. Yes….that is to get into medical school! While dance is a passion for her, so is science. “I am a nerd like that,” she told me. After taking the MCAT Sophia will be attending medical school with the intention of becoming a pediatrician. “I love science,” she said, “Anatomy is awesome!” She is not only inspired by science but also her father, who is a doctor, and the time she spends at KCC. Teaching dance to kids at the cultural center showed her how much she enjoyed working with children. So why not combine her passions? She is excited about becoming a pediatrician, “you have to communicate with parents and kids,” she told me. And communication has been something she is working on lately.
She described herself as “not the most outgoing,” and she had growing sense that she “felt necessary to speak my mind.” In running for Miss Outstanding teen and then for Miss Kings County, she told me that it has “helped with my style and presenting myself.” One of the most exciting aspects for her is the platform that each contestant seeks to promote during their reign. “Getting to share about Cultural Appreciation is something I am passionate about.” For Sophia, Cultural Appreciation is not just a platform, but is something that has been passed down from her parents. “My parents are super supportive in anything we do,” she said.
No matter where she winds up in the standings, it does not matter, she is already inspiring and encouraging in so many ways. So good luck and many blessings to her this weekend in the Miss California pageant. And may that luck and blessing continue as you bring beauty, healing and grace into your community.
So we have been doing some sprucing up of our home, and with each new task completed, we are more and more comfortable. (Really…we have only been here 13 years!) Our latest venture was bringing some interest to a kitchen wall, over the counter where we keep the coffee pot. (Or our coffee shrine as I call it)
Cheryl Mendoza 