The Whole Christmas StorySýnishorn

Day 5 | Home for All

What does "home" mean to you? As someone who’s moved around a lot, I’ve given this question a fair bit of thought. To me, it means a place of belonging, where I’m safe, where there are people who love me, and where I can leave my stuff knowing it’ll still be there when I get back. It means somewhere others can find me, and somewhere I can offer hospitality. Having a home isn’t a luxury. It’s something we all need in some form or another– humans and the rest of creation.

When God made the world, he made it to be a home for all who live here. Psalm 104 celebrates the fact that each creature has its place. There’s a striking particularity to these verses – storks in the junipers, wild goats in the high mountains, hyrax on the crags (hyrax are little rodent-like animals, by the way!). The cedars of Lebanon are planted where there is water, the creatures "belong" and have a "refuge." One of the wonders of creation is that God has designed it so the very specific needs of all living things can be met.

We have begun this advent journey considering the glorious, extravagant wonder of this universe of God’s, which he loved, loves, and will always love. Because if we don’t start there, we won’t understand why Jesus would be born into it to save it.

Creation is where the Christmas story really begins.

Prayer

Creator God, you have made a good, good world. Thank you for considering with infinite care what each part of it needs to flourish. Thank you for the place you made for me. Help me be generous in using it as a place of welcome, belonging, and safety for those who need it.