When the Halo Tips
Dec 14th, 2009 by John
Cute Christmas Angel
As a pastor at this time of the year I get to revel in the raggedy fun of little children once again telling the birth of Jesus in the annual Christmas play. I love it. The hand-made signs, the shy ones and the ones waving to relatives in the congregation spark a joy like nothing else all year long. The shepherds, the angels, the little Mary and Joseph at the manger bring the old, old story to delightful life right before our eyes.
In our recent church play I noticed a little angel sitting and enjoying her halo. Suspended on a thin wire and circling her head, she decided that she would get inventive and creative. She pulled the wire down so that the halo was like one big lens in front of her face. She was looking through it! It reminded me of a snorkler’s mask. She was looking around at everything…one cute little angelic Cyclops.
What a lesson! Rather than dangling above her head making her the holy little creature, looking through the halo she saw holiness in all that she observed. Think about it. What if we “hallowed” not only God’s name, but all the people around us? Would we think of people differently; would we care about them differently; would we behave toward them differently? Would that “differently” mean more sacredly, honoring each one as a bearer of the Eikon (image) of God?
“On earth peace and good will toward people.” The little angel’s tipped halo, her lens on life, sent a message far beyond her awareness as she sat having little girl fun.
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Thank you. Thinking about the image of God in others, the sacredness of human beings and this short life, causes me to think twice before I do violence to others by speaking disparaging words. If I am upset at my husband, this thought helps keep me in check. I wish I were 100% blameless in speech and in action. But still, the thought serves as a deterrent to sin.
Great perspective, John. Redemptive, really. Everytime I think of a tilted halo I think of our imperfections…not any more. Thanks for sharing.
Marlena,
You got it right…how we “see” others will shape our words and behavior. Thanks for the insightful comment.
Bonnie,
Great observation…usually a tipped halo speaks of imperfections, but even that can be redeemed and become a compassionate lens.
John, John, John,
Where do you come up with such inspiring deep thoughts from such a simple event? You took what at first appeared to you as a snorkel mask, and somewhere deep in your spirit arose the thought of a lens for viewing those around us differently. Like Dallas Willard’s notion of living as if Jesus were in our skin. You are an amazing guy.
Jan to the fourth power,
Thanks for the kind, encouraging affirmation.
How do you know about Dallas Willard? Aren’t those kinds of books verboten! to you? LOL