Little by Little

I was reminded today that William Sloane Coffin once wrote that the gift of the Incarnation isn't just about what God became in Jesus: it's also about what we can still become in the fullness of our own time.

For some, the "becoming" might be measured boldly: a grand stretching of wings, a courageous stepping out beyond safe borders, or a total commitment to integrating one's core values with everyday living. But sometimes, perhaps most times, our "becoming" is more reliably measured incrementally. An alcoholic in recovery may feel that twenty-five days of sobriety doesn't measure up well against years of addictive behavior. Someone who has a record of poor decisions may labor under the weight of self-judgment to the point of negating every good choice they do make. But the truth is that each and every new day of sobriety, each and every life-affirming choice, is a towering success that warrants celebrating with the angels.

Who are we to become? Every choice we make to listen to (and act upon) the still, small voice of God that speaks faithfully within us is an act of Incarnating God's Word for us. After all, Christmas reminds us that God is not only in the grand scheme of things, God is present in the details.