Jesus is prone to show up in the unexpected. A triumphal entry on a donkey, dining with the lowest-class folks, being born in a stable…definitely not the norm. And I think he does that to keep us from getting stuck in our head, so that we can be tuned in to the sudden movements of our hearts when we encounter him where we least expected.
Something I consistently return to during my work with my therapist is placing less emphasis on my intellect and more on where I experience an event in my body. In knowing that we are holistic beings, it’s the discipline of listening to what our body and heart has to say, rather than relying solely on how our minds make meaning of things. This place of internal attunement is often where a surprise encounter with Jesus can occur -- beyond the logic and rationale of our brains.
When we catch our breath at the beauty of raw human resilience shining through the trash-littered streets in an impoverished country, we see a surprise glimpse of Jesus. When we witness a small but significant shift in behavior from our child who is trying to sort out this world and follow the guidance of their parents, there is a flicker of Jesus’ warmth in the midst of trials of parenthood. When we celebrate the commitment of a couple who’ve remained together for decades, despite the countless events that could have separated them, we catch a smile from our Jesus who is in the very midst of this life with us.
And when we consider the God of the Universe sending His son to this earth as a human babe, born in a space suited for livestock, to an unlikely couple of no significant standing among men, we are invited to be caught up in the unexpectedness of it all. So that the truth of his coming to earth to walk as man can pierce through our preconceived notions, defy our limited logic and touch us at our deepest heart level -- that the coming of Jesus is something we are unable to ignore or dispute. In his unexpected methods, Jesus has stirred a revolution among the hearts of his children.
Philippians 2:6-7
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
About the Author
Britni is a quiet but fearless spirit who is earnestly seeking the beauty of the redemption that Jesus has personally determined for her life. Committed to the truth that listening breeds understanding and understanding results in compassion, she clings to the power of life’s stories. She has embarked on the venture of discovering her own story and lending an ear to the stories lived out in others and savors the trace of Jesus that is woven throughout them all. Currently, that journey has landed her in a balancing act between the role of wife, momma, and a mental health Care Coordinator.