“In those days a decree went out…” If you’ve attended a Christmas Eve service you’ve heard these words about the call for a census, setting up the tale of our savior’s birth. Over the years we’ve romanticized it with our church pageants, but the situation was hardly romantic. In fact, it was probably really awkward. Joseph and Mary arrive to be officially and publicly registered, but the fact that they were pregnant and unmarried made their relationship, especially back then, quite scandalous. “Name, please?” “Joseph.” “And this is…?” “Mary.” “Your wife?” “Um, fiancé.” “But she’s…” “Pregnant. Yes. I know. But you see, there was this dream…” Awkward.

They say half of life is about showing up: for class, church, the party, the wedding, the funeral. We must be there for one another, especially when it’s awkward or even scandalous. Joseph and Mary go on record as “together.” Together they witness the greatest of miracles — Emmanuel, God with us. Let’s remember that in our most awkward moments, God shows up and says, “Yes. I’m with them.”

By Bill Buchanan from D365