A Small Me

We take so many of them every day, we had to invent the term “selfie.”  I just extend my arm, wait until my camera frames me up so that I’m prominently featured – then click!   And you know what I’ve noticed?  It’s practically impossible to take a selfie without a large me. 

Yet studies show exactly the opposite is needed to experience something incredibly powerful, inspiring and life-giving: awe and wonder. 

It’s strangely ironic to be in the presence of something that makes you feel very small, but at the same time fills you in a way that’s hard to compare – or even fully explain.  It’s that jaw-dropping, speechless place of coming to the realization or being in the presence of something wildly transcendent – something outside of you – something bigger than life and bigger than you. 

It’s a small me.

So whether it’s breathlessly gazing into a sky filled with billions of stars or being awestruck by the birth of your child or so many other things, it’s a small me.  And I’m pretty sure many who came to Bethlehem that first Christmas night experienced it too. 

As the Scriptures tell us, “And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:18): a sky exploding with angels declaring God’s glory and the birth of His Son – the Savior – Messiah in a manger!  Incredible. 

May God fill us with this same shepherd-sense of awe and wonder as we celebrate Jesus – Immanuel – God with us!   

Please watch this 5-minute Scriptural journey to Bethlehem as the Word became flesh (John 1:14).