Wait for the Lord 12 - You are Chosen
I was rarely one of the first kids chosen in games back in the day. There were always guys who were faster or stronger than me. But there was always that great feeling when I was chosen early on or chosen even first (which did happen a few times). There is something wonderful about the feeling of being chosen. I remember seeing videos of Sally Field winning the academy award saying, "You like me, you really like me!" Nouwen focuses today on the idea that we are a chosen people (as 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us). But what I love about what he does is that he reminds us that, while we can celebrate our "chosen-ness", we are also called to "help other people recognize that they are also chosen because in God's eye, being chosen doesn't mean that the rest are not chosen."
We are doing so much "dividing" and drawing lines between people today. Conservative / Liberal. Rich / Poor. Black / White. Christian / Muslim. Democrat / Republican. The list goes on. Yet the truth of what Nouwen shares today rings out - "The more you get in touch with your own uniqueness, the more you will see with the eyes of God the uniqueness of others."
I give thanks for this season that speaks to the truth of what was shared by the angels in the field, "“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."
Good news of Great Joy for ALL the people.