Pine Wood-Reflections for the Season: Blessing Misunderstood

Judy Benjamin: I think they sent me to the wrong place.
Capt. Lewis: Uh-huh.
Judy Benjamin: See, I did join the army, but I joined a *different* army. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms.

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

At times in my life, I feel like I joined a *different* Christianity. I signed up for the one with the easy life, the easy answers, and the absence of trials. I look at Mary’s life and I’m pretty certain that I’ve missed the point.

For starters, you’re not married and you’re pregnant! And you are a virgin. First there’s the worry about your betrothed. And then there’s that small issue of the community you live in. People talk. How do you explain this one?

Get married, raise a family, make some money, and enjoy the neighborhood. Live out a long and happy life with your husband. That’s the usual plan, isn’t it? Not go up to Bethlehem, and have the baby in a manger. Then, on to Egypt, to escape Herod’s wrath. Finally, on to Nazareth. And for the rest of your life, many will say to your Son, “Where is your father? And whisper and say things behind your back. Virgin, yeah, right.

Finally, the natural order of things is for the children to bury the parents. The children shouldn’t go first. That’s appalling. To see your Son go before you; pierced through, crushed, chastened, scourged and slaughtered. Unbearable.

So how is blessing to be understood? There are a million things to say here. Perhaps blessing is first of all, knowing and experiencing Jesus. To grow to know Him in all His fullness and all of his glory. Secondly, on a much smaller scale, to count those obvious blessings. And give rich thanks to the Father who provides them all.