That's what God is doing here...breaking in to a world which he created, but which hastens to deny his existence (let alone his power and sovereignty). So like a thief in the night, God comes among us as one of us...poor, humble, and yet so replete with the dignity intended for humankind that even death cannot overpower him.
More: we who are formed in his image are enabled to share his redeeming purpose because of this incarnation. Like Mary, we get to smuggle God into the world in our bodies...enfleshing the Creator's vision for the cosmos by our mortal words and deeds.
What greater gift could there be? An ancient collect puts it this way: "Almighty God, you wonderfully created the dignity of human nature, and yet more wonderfully restored it. In your mercy, let us share the divine life of the One who came to share our humanity..."
How strange! This thief comes not to take, but to give...not to destroy but to redeem...not to vandalize, but to scandalize the world with the great good news that life has been made whole and fresh again.
May our Christmas celebrations greet this thief with joy. And may our joy overflow into the world in purpose and hope. Blessed Christmas, indeed!
24 December 2008
15 December 2008
Throwing shoes...
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - President George W. Bush wrapped up a whirlwind trip to two war zones Monday that in many ways was a victory lap without a clear victory. A signature event occurred when an Iraqi reporter hurled two shoes at Bush, an incident the president called "a bizarre moment."
OK...I get that, on one level at least, this is just funny...at least to American sensibilities. But for Middle-Easterners, it is a deep insult. Remember the pictures of all the Iraqis beating the toppled statue of Saddam shortly after American troops took Baghdad? They certainly weren't expressing their love or simply trying to knock the sand out from between the treads.
Let me suggest, as well, that the shoe-thrower is perfectly free to express himself whether I happen to appreciate it or not. What really bothers me about this is the smirking, giggling, "boy, he got what was comin' to him" reaction I've heard from so many Americans...especially those who consider themselves Christian.
An insult...in any language or culture...is, by definition, an attack on basic human dignity. It is meant to reduce your opponent to the status of non-person...someone we might permissibly abuse or even kill. Of course, it is perfectly acceptable to disagree with one another. But it seems antithetical to our faith to debase one another...or to accept/permit/enjoy such behavior from others. And while I would make no claims of moral equivalence, it's certainly not too long a distance from hurling shoes to hurling hand grenades.
I'm sorry Bush's attacker felt that there was no other way to express his outrage. But this incident deserves a more mature response than a snicker. To do so denigrates both the "thrower" and President Bush, and only prolongs our inability to deal with each other as fellow human beings and children of the same heavenly Father. I'm guessing that there are more constructive ways of engaging one another...one that does not involve tossing either articles of clothing or weapons of mass destruction.
OK...I get that, on one level at least, this is just funny...at least to American sensibilities. But for Middle-Easterners, it is a deep insult. Remember the pictures of all the Iraqis beating the toppled statue of Saddam shortly after American troops took Baghdad? They certainly weren't expressing their love or simply trying to knock the sand out from between the treads.
Let me suggest, as well, that the shoe-thrower is perfectly free to express himself whether I happen to appreciate it or not. What really bothers me about this is the smirking, giggling, "boy, he got what was comin' to him" reaction I've heard from so many Americans...especially those who consider themselves Christian.
An insult...in any language or culture...is, by definition, an attack on basic human dignity. It is meant to reduce your opponent to the status of non-person...someone we might permissibly abuse or even kill. Of course, it is perfectly acceptable to disagree with one another. But it seems antithetical to our faith to debase one another...or to accept/permit/enjoy such behavior from others. And while I would make no claims of moral equivalence, it's certainly not too long a distance from hurling shoes to hurling hand grenades.
I'm sorry Bush's attacker felt that there was no other way to express his outrage. But this incident deserves a more mature response than a snicker. To do so denigrates both the "thrower" and President Bush, and only prolongs our inability to deal with each other as fellow human beings and children of the same heavenly Father. I'm guessing that there are more constructive ways of engaging one another...one that does not involve tossing either articles of clothing or weapons of mass destruction.
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