Shortcuts almost always catch me up short!
If my late father-in-law was behind the wheel and the word shortcut was mentioned I admit fear and dread, would rise up in me, no matter the intended destination or probable distance. My thoughts would go directly to my first shortcut with him.
January 2000, my husband and I ventured from Seattle to Florida to introduce our 8 month-old son to his grandparents. My father-in-law was not only excited to meet his young grandson but also to introduce me to his beloved central Florida as it was my first visit to their adopted home state. As we left the Orlando airport, he told us “I thought we’d take my favorite shortcut home.”
He drove at a leisurely pace, avoiding the tollways and narrating our adventure, pointing out this or that and sharing fond memories along the way. As you might imagine, I wanted to be respectful and appreciative of my in-laws and willed myself to listen and reply with genuine appreciation from the back seat of his sedan …
…in the over-heated car. “We wouldn’t want anyone to catch a chill now that the temps have dropped below 80.”
…in the foggy-headedness following an 8+ hour trip with my sweet child who was only settled when his father or I were walking him up and down the aisle or hanging with the flight attendants in their work area.
And, I am sorry to say, you can add in my baby-vomit-covered clothes, to the list of distractions which hampered my careful attention upon my tour guide’s ongoing narrative. It was a lovely drive of about two and one-half hours. I am sorry to say my first visit to Florida started off pretty rough.
It was when we were, a week later, on our way back to the airport for our return flight that my father-in-law mentioned, as we pulled away from their home, this time adopting a pilot’s approach … “We should have you at the terminal in under 45 minutes.” “Forty-five minutes?” I asked, “It was a little longer than that when we arrived.” My husband quietly whispered “That was Dad’s idea of a shortcut. The direct route is 45 minutes.” Shortcut indeed!
Yes, taking the local shortcuts can often be helpful. A backroad was my own father’s favorite route to just about anywhere. I admit, I’m tempted to employ a few shortcuts when it comes to the road to Christmas, the road of Advent.
Some of the shortcuts toward Christmas seem worthy, don’t they? Ship free to my far-flung family through online orders. Send cards only to my parents (and my Aunt Ruthie and my mother-in-law) because Mom will ask me about it if I don’t send her one. Do my treat baking at Trader Joe’s. Gift bags always, which do not require that I know where the Scotch tape is hiding. But …
But it is the journey, the meaningful roads toward the precious moment we light the candles on Christmas Eve as we sing Silent Night. I’m praying for simple, love-sharing moments along the way. Of waiting hearts pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus – for you and for me. And of course, some time spent intentionally in God’s Word … without shortcuts. Let’s start in the Old Testament!
Here are three remarkable verses from the Old Testament foretelling of our Savior’s birth …
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Immanuel means “God is with us”) Isaiah 7.14
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9.6
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans for Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old from ancient days. Micah 5.2
With trust for this and all the days of the Advent Season, Colleen