"A Barn Event"
Linda and I are fortunate to live in a wonderful parsonage. On back corner of our large yard is a sizeable storage barn. It has been used for many things through the years, but in the last several it has become a catch all for all kinds of "heirlooms" in addition to my lawn mower, tools and seasonal decorations. It was time for a clean sweep. Enlisting the help of my daughter, we embarked to the barn one Saturday morning and took every single thing out of it. We made a pile for trash, a pile for tools and equipment, a pile of yard sale items and a pile of "what the heck is that thing!" Once we got everything out, we cleaned the inside. The dirt and leaves and dead bugs were swept out, a new shelf was built to organize things and we made ready to house more stuff. I hated to fill it back up. It look so good all cleaned out, but I still needed to use it. It was quite an event that day.
There was another big event that occurred in a barn. It was makeshift barn that had been created out of a cave which was hewn out of a big rocky hill on the outskirts of the small town. This barn had not been cleaned out for sometime either. It was bigger than my storage barn and used to keep livestock and their hay and straw. The owner did not sweep it out in anticipation of a big event because he did not know it was going to take place. But this event was so big that it would lead to a "house cleaning" for all of humanity. Outside the small town of Bethlehem Jesus was born. This baby was the incarnate Son of God. He was God in flesh. Once Jesus was born it continued to be a barn, a stable. But, it would never be the same. I often wonder what the owner of that livery did after his barn provided the birth place for God on earth?
I didn't put as much stuff back in my barn. There is more room to walk in now. If I take care of it little by little each week I should not have to have such an event again. God sent Jesus so we would not have to carry our own sin again. It too was a once in a lifetime event. This advent we all need to prepare for the coming of Jesus and what that means to each of us and our families and friends. Today, find an area of your office, or classroom, or home or garage that needs to be cleaned out. Then remember that God sent his Son to clean your heart. Kneel down among the mess and give thanks.
Sharing in Faith,
Rev. Craig W. Duke
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