What’s that look in a mother’s eyes? What’s that gaze that reaches past surrender and wonder… past the promises and the warnings, the family reunions and the local gossip? Away from the comforts of home but aware of the God of all comfort? What’s that careful attention to every detail, that thoughtful meditation on every experience?
It’s just love shining…
in a soul that’s mining the heart of God for the truth.
What’s that invasion into this man’s only mental refuge – his sleep? What’s that dreamy interruption – not once, but three times – of this man’s thoughts? A man who has come to the end of his own understanding? A man lost in futility who, when he peers dimly at a dark future, believes that no matter what he says or does, it will end badly?
It’s just love shining…
in a heart aligning itself to God for the way.
What’s that terror on the faces of men made for danger? That fear carved into the core of those who walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death for a living? What news of great joy could move them to go away from their protective posts and venture into a town where they weren’t particularly liked? What transformed them from watchers in the night to witnesses in the day?
It’s just love shining…
and God reassigning the haves and have-nots of the day.
What’s that army in battle array? That shout of victory declaring the war is over? What’s that sword-drawn invasion of the angel armies, leaving the glory and comforts of heaven to fight over an ordinary-looking baby and his uprooted parents? What’s that shout of praise that serves as both a sweet surprise to the shepherds and the ultimate shock and awe to the forces of hell?
It’s just love shining…
and an army that’s lining the path to the glory of God.
What’s that caravan of star gazers and dream chasers? That crazy collection of Eastern seekers who would miss the proud culture of Persia and journey to a land that was repeatedly vanquished? What’s that guide in the night sky – that heavenly tractor beam that draws them? That allows them no comfort until they have worshipped and given of themselves and their treasures?
It’s just love shining…
and the Lord redesigning His kingdom to welcome the world.
What’s that expression of ageless praise? Those radiant beams on the holy faces of a man and a woman who attended daily to the voice and worship of God? What’s that testimony that this day was worth the wait? That long ago showed that believing is seeing and now can declare with joy that seeing is believing?
It’s just love shining…
in hearts that were pining to see the salvation of God.
What’s that reflection of a long-ago reality? That old man’s perspective on a cosmic event now blandly called Christmas? What’s that glory he says he saw, full of grace and truth, that keeps his heart going strong even to this day? That miraculous assessment he gives that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us?
It’s just love shining…
forever defining the way… the truth… and the life.