Just dropped Jincheng off at the airport. Check.

Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will!
Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!  Psalm 103:20-22

The shepherds, humble, lonely, and obscure were chosen to be at the crux moment of the history of the universe. When God comes near, kingdom values are revealed. And these shepherds embody one of the most significant values of Jesus come to the earth. The Beatitudes say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

Unlike the rich young ruler. In spite of his earnest pure heart, his dedication, his efforts, he was simply too invested in the things of the world and he went away sad. His calendar was full. The shepherds were the ideal welcoming committee because they were available. They were willing to drop everything and they weren’t too proud to worship a newborn king and they weren’t too preoccupied to go and proclaim it, just as they were instructed.

When God comes near, He reveals that the kingdom is foremost for those who are available.

Am I willing to make room for Him?

And my stuffed-full calendar is what drove me to agree with my boss, yes I need a break. And my worn out and weary tears in the dark. Earnest, dedicated and trying trying trying it is not what is requested or required.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Humble enough to let it all go. To leave my sheep on the starlit hill and go down into the small dusty town. Humble enough to let it all go. To drop my fancy robe at my feet and walk out naked. Humble enough to reply, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.”

May this advent season be honest preparation for the following sabbatical season, making room for worship and proclamation.

Humble enough to let it all go. To zip that to do list through the metaphorical shredder.

Just before he got tossed into the lake of healing

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the LORD when He comes, when He comes to judge the earth. Psalm 96:11-12

. . . everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of Him that cured them all. Then fixing His eyes on his disciples He said: ‘How happy are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!—your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets. But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep. Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’ Luke 6

Yesterday morning, just sort of randomly during swimming, I heard Jesus say to me: People are going to act really surprised when they find out that I meant it when I said, "If you have two shirts, and someone is without, give him one of yours."

And oddly enough He gave me a perfect opportunity shortly thereafter to give away a figurative shirt.

So I was surprised with this morning's verse, and the great joy that will greet Him when at last He comes to judge the earth.

And I can see that it is a time when the wrong will be made right, and every tear will be wiped away in the future tense. But there will be a fresh round of grieving and gnashing of teeth as all is made clear, and the chaff will be blown away.

But what I noticed this morning anew is that the poor have the kingdom of God now, present tense. This power and happiness somehow belongs to those huddled in Gaza UN schools, and in South Sudanese ditches, and border bus stations. I don't understand that, unless they have the opportunity to experience the lovingkindness of Jesus with no distractions.

Something to think about as I swim this morning.

And feeling pretty stripped-down naked myself, as in Aslan-peeling-the-beastly-stuff-off, with the "first tear so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart," leaving me smaller than I had been.

And I am pretty much left holding a basket of emptiness.

Let me hear of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I put my trust in You; show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8

In You alone.