December 22nd, Advent Day 26
Remember all the old movies that were about spies or nuclear facilities or government offices, that always had some need to reach the President or someone else important, and there was always a red phone by which one could reach that important person? If you reached the one who answered the red phone, you were gonna get some relief. Remember “DR. STRANGELOVE”? There was a red phone in the War Room that was a direct line to the President. I remember that movie because it contains one of the greatest lines ever: “You can’t fight in here, this is the War Room!!!” I digress…
I have an aunt who is now 92 years old. My sisters and I, and my dad too, have for many years been convinced that Aunt Mildred (people used to give their kids names like that) had a red phone, only in her case He who answered her phone was (is) the one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
I should probably also tell you that Aunt M (as we now refer to her when she’s not around) is not, nor has she ever been, an Episcopalian. If you asked her, as I would, what flavor church she attends, faithfully, she would probably say “Pentecostal.”
As Episcopalians, we might respond to that with “yikes!” Visions of snake handling, people falling down, and loud preaching might come to mind. Some other stuff too. But not so much in Aunt Mildred’s world. But oh man, can those people worship. And pray. And they know their Bibles “contents page to maps.” And all of that yields a faith that can move…well, you fill in the blank.
Aunt Mildred believes in a God who is here. A REAL Emmanuel: God With Us. Folks in her church know his name is Jesus and they aren’t ashamed to call on him. Their lives are animated by the Holy Spirit. They have God-bathed imaginations. I told Aunt M on the phone the other day that I aspire to her position (and asked her to pray for me)!
I’ve always liked babies. That may be why I have also always loved Christmas. Or loving Christmas is why I’ve always loved babies. Either way, I think the two are connected. I imagine you can understand that, but I’ll give you a one-word hint: Manger.
Moving on from Advent and Christmas this year, I’ve asked Aunt M and a few other people to pray for me that I’ll watch with anticipation as Bethlehem’s Baby grows into a Man, and that I’ll be one who will double-down on my own time worshipping and praying and swimming in the Scriptures. And that I’ll live into a God-bathed imagination of life. If faith comes from these things, then yes, I’ll have a big gulp of that, too.