Puppies, Promises, and Candelight

The other morning, one of you walked into the church office with a little brown eyed, floppy eared puppy. Immediately, my attention leaped from all my day's tasks and responsibilities. I began dreaming about holding this little cute ball of furry goodness in my arms. Holding the puppy in my arms, I wanted her to be mine. I considered how I could make it possible to have this little creature waiting for me to hold her when my workday ended.
Spending a day to research puppy parenthood and finish my last bit of work related reading by candlelight; I came to an unsettling resting conclusion. A puppy is always irresistible. Something about their willingness to receive love and care screams out to my need to nurture life. But, like the candle I carried across my living room to my dining room, all young forms of life need to be carefully guarded from even the gentlest wind that can extinguish their delicate lives.
Stopping at this conclusion reminded me of the great joy and anticipation we face each Advent as we wait for our Baby Jesus to come to us in a small, delicate, humble setting. Our love affair with God coming as Immanuel (God with us) in that Bethlehem manger appeals to our most fragile senses. As Jesus comes as a child to adults, we can embrace the need to draw close to this God in the manger.
Christmas candlelight services are a great place for those outside of faith or church walls to come close to a message full of promise in this little Babe. As God comes to save us from gloomier looming realities he enters into the small to invite us to draw near. And, as we take this season to delight in the comforting joy brought by all young life, we prepare to carry this babe to adulthood.
Likeswise, we carry new believers with great delicacy and care to this Baby Christ. We wait like little children to adore his simple majesty wrapped in white swaddling clothes. As faith unfolds, we begin to walk with Christ into faithful maturity. He teaches us that his death would leave him far from cradled care. With blood-drenched linens he would leave his time to visit with us and vanquish death for our care and eternal promise.