I make it no secret that I love this season. I’ve been trying to put my finger on why. Why do I have such delight? Why is just being around and taking in the lights and colors so exciting? Why do vanilla candles smell even better in November and December? Why do I go through the chaos of decking my halls when everyone else is still trick or treating? Just when I think I’ve found one word that will wrap it all up for me – expectancy? – I think of 3 more that might say it better. Then I think maybe there just aren’t words for this. Maybe what God did for me is too much for my human vocabulary. That’s certainly true of the Cross and the resurrection, but even still, I don’t get this awe-struck at Easter. As beautiful and heartbreaking and undeserved as Jesus’ death was, there was a point where He had to choose it. And that’s the moment I can’t quite describe and yet love so very much. A moment where His Father must have looked at Him and said, “This is it. It’s time.” And He said ok. He looked around at the throngs of angels and the Throne and the indescribable beauty of Heaven, and still He said ok. He looked ahead to the agonizing future and the years of painful anticipation and still, He said ok. For me. A selfish wreck of a woman. A woman of little faith. Truly the chief of sinners. And He left the most glorious, Holy, perfect place in all of history and went to a stable full of animal excrement, for me. He chose me. That’s beyond words. Beyond description. Beyond understanding. It’s just beyond. And I guess that’s why I get to this place every year. I’m just beyond. Beyond excited. Beyond expectant. His gift, His love, His choice, His suffering. His life for mine. Hallelujah.

https://vimeo.com/55641900