Paul Gagné
Isaiah 40:11
Cameras offered on newer smartphones can be overwhelming. Many choices are provided like Night, Professional, Panoramic, Live Focus, etc. Furthermore, each option presents many levels of complexity. 99.9% of the time, I do not use any of these options. My goal is just to snap a quick picture. After all, I am not an expert photographer. I wonder if my lack of understanding of photography prevents me from seeing important nuances.
Christmas is extremely rich in significance and beauty. Though I try hard to grasp God’s message, often I just snap a quick mental picture. After all, there is so much to do: gifts, invitations, cleaning, church, work, and … hosting family and friends.
Isaiah 40:11 says: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Using a mental snapping approach would not bring this wonderful verse into the picture because it is too far from the precious Baby sleeping in a manger. Our text is all about the Almighty: His agility, His wisdom, His commitment, highlighted by His giving and tender love. This image of God is at the antipode of the Babe in a manger that is given to us.
Considering Isaiah 40:11 and Christmas, we have to realize that snapping a quick mental picture of the season is not enough. We need a full panoramic view that includes God as the all-powerful, independent leader, and committed caregiver, as well as God, the One who renounced for a time his powerful nature to become a baby. All this because of His incredible desire to have a close and redeeming relationship with each one of us.