Happy homestretch-of-2025 Saturday, friends!
It’s only 12 days until Christmas and only 19 days until 2026!
Remember when those numbers seemed so far away and we thought we’d be flying around in Jetson cars by now?
We are almost always surprised when our imagined future becomes our experienced present.
I never read George Orwell’s “1984” (published in 1949), nor have I ever seen any of the movies based on it.
This week I listened to a dramatized audiobook production and I have some thoughts (I know you’re shocked by that):
1. How disturbingly depressing!
2. 1984 was the year I graduated from college and got married, so I’m a bit amused by what Orwell imagined that point in time to be.
3. In observing some of the current world circumstances, it’s possible that he wasn’t completely off base, just early. (That’s all I’m going to say about that).
4. When we look at others through the eyes of fear, suspicion, and offense, it will inevitably become our undoing.
I arrived this morning at the penultimate hymn in my current hymnal (I’ll finish it on Monday and start a new hymnal in January).
In case you’re unfamiliar with this hymn, here’s a recording.
I last sang this beautiful benediction hymn a few weeks ago at our 4Amarillo community thanksgiving service at the Central Church of Christ.
Since I don’t know the seating capacity of their beautiful worship space, it’s difficult for me to estimate the attendance for that service. My total shot-in-the-dark estimate is around 700.
Regardless of how accurate my estimate might be, that many a capella voices singing this hymn was not just musically inspiring; it was also a strong reminder that our best defense against living a life of fear, suspicion, and offense is to deliberately see others through the eyes of Jesus and to intentionally bless them in the name of Jesus.
Blessings may be words or actions (preferably both).
Blessings may not always be received graciously and with gushing gratitude, but that’s not the point.
We do not bless so that we will be blessed in return.
We bless because we have already been blessed by God’s presence with us.
That’s actually what we’re celebrating in this season: Emmanuel.
God with us.
Be amazing today, my friend.
