nothing but love. no matter who, no matter what.

​I’ve read few words that better describe the miracle of Christmas: “That the infinity of God should take upon itself human narrowness…”

It is never lost on me just how upside-down God turns the story of life Christmas morning. The things we most long for in life – bliss and forever – God already has. And yet, he willingly leaves them behind to join us in our longing.

There is no other God story like that.

I suppose that’s the point. It was never meant to stay a God story. Christmas is God writing himself into OUR story.

In fairness, God didn’t leave us in total control of our story. He outlined the plot. Okay, maybe he commanded it. He insisted - this must be a love story.

Nothing but love. No matter who, no matter what.

We’ve struggled with this story. Sometimes we get the love part right; it’s the ‘nothing but’ and the ‘no matter who, no matter what’ that trips us up.

When it does, we look to heaven. And we shout, you have no idea what you’re asking of us. You have no idea the narrowness of these humans you are insisting that we love. This story you want us to write – with all due respect, God – it’s impossible to write.

And then we see him – both - the baby in a manger and the man on the cross. Welcomed to the world surrounded by human love, sent out of the world at the hands of human evil.

And we see him – just looking back. In silence. Loving us who have loved him and loving us who have killed him.

In his gaze, we see and feel just how upside-down the Christmas story truly is. We feel challenged to put aside the limits of our own human narrowness to pursue the infinity of God’s love.

Christmas is a beautiful story. One of the most beautiful love stories ever written. But it comes with a loving reminder.

No matter who. No matter what.

The infinity of God took upon itself human narrowness. I don’t think that was to show us what God is capable of. I think it was to constantly remind us what we are capable of.

Nothing but love. No matter who, no matter what.