Emmanuel/God with Us

A Reflection based on Matthew 1: 18-25

I know all the words.
Omniscient.
Omnipotent.
Infinite.
Eternal.
Unchangeable in being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
I know all that.
And, I know both goodness and beauty which stops me in my tracks.
And awe which takes my breath away and reminds me there is so much more than me.
And mystery which swallows me up and reminds me how little I really know or understand.
And I know love. Thank God I know love.
I know God is all that. And more.
More than me. More than us. More than I can know or name.
Rock of Ages. Ground of Being. Higher Power. Infinite Unknown.
I know all that.
I need all that.
But I also need this.
I need Emmanuel.
God with us. God with me.
Right here. Right now. Just as I am.
I need God with me when I walk through that Valley of the Shadow of Death.
I need God at my side when I listen closely to a friend and the conversation goes deep.
I need God with me when I do what I can to stand hard against hatred or indifference.
I need God with me when I struggle with the headlines in the news.
Or with the brokenness and searching of my own life.
I need God with me when all I can do is whisper Thank you.
And, when there are tears in my eyes…whether from joy or from sorrow.

And so come, angel of God.
Come again and whisper his name in my ear.
And so remind me when I need it the most.
That God comes to us again to be Emmanuel.
God with us.
Each and every step of the way.