Being vulnerable…

Have you ever felt vulnerable and had someone take advantage of you or hurt you? It’s hard to trust again or sometimes to even love again after that. But get up we must and learn to forgive, let go, and somehow, to be vulnerable all over again…because the opposite is being bitter, closed off, hardened…and we all know that’s not how God wants us to be.

I was reflecting that perhaps this is why Jesus came to earth as a baby…the most vulnerable of all creatures. From his birth people were out to “get” him – those against him couldn’t stand his true power; they were basically jealous or insecure. And Jesus the man remained equally vulnerable – gentle, kind, giving, no matter how much he was ridiculed, spat upon, beaten and eventually killed.

Sometimes we are wrongfully harmed through no fault of our own – by people who don’t consider our feelings or who are out to “get” us, usually because they are jealous of us or feel insecure. I believe He calls on each one of us to follow His way…to look outside of ourselves and our feelings to meeting the needs of others, even when to do so means showing compassion and forgiveness, usually to those who hurt us, whether intentionally or unintentionally – to turning the other cheek.

During these last few days of Advent, as people get more stressed and frantic, I hope I keep my focus on the baby Jesus, knowing He was a vulnerable human being who went before us in suffering, and yet called on us to be like Him – and promised if we walk in His ways we will end up coming Home to Him and finding true, lasting glory.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

I hope each of you reading this find true spiritual guidance in these last several days of Advent…and have a peaceful, joyful and blessed Christmas!