Christmas is a season of travel. Many of us pack up the family vehicle and drive across the country to visit relatives. Others use the holiday to find the sun and reenergize on vacation. Those of us who stay put may still have our lives disrupted by an invasion of guests or relatives.

This all seems very appropriate because the Christmas narrative is full of characters traveling from one place to another. Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The magi traveled from the East to find the newborn King of the Jews. Jesus himself left the glories of heaven to dwell with us on earth. It is a theme we discover throughout the Bible—God often does his most creative work by dislocating people. He draws, or pushes, them into unfamiliar territory or circumstances in order to accomplish something new. Theologians call it “creative dislocation.” It happened to Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, and many other saints of old, and it is how God accomplished his most creative work of Jesus’ incarnation.

Consider what new thing he is drawing, or pushing, you toward. Are you willing to leave your familiar location or situation and trust him with something new? Are you open to whatever new creative act he wants to do with you? The uncomfortable circumstances before you may be the place where God intends to reveal his grace and presence in a way you cannot yet imagine.

Shalom, Mike