There’s quite a bit on offer and it all looks rather good. There are things that say they make us feel happy and fulfilled and wealthy and wise. Some make us look good, or better. Others tell us they’ll improve our sex lives. For some, the answer is just sex. That or a good glass of bubbly, or sniff, or injection. That feeling’s great. Better than sex, they say.
You’ll feel like a million bucks, they tell us; or, if you buy this ticket or put your money on the table or in the machine you’ll win a million bucks. Either way, it sounds pretty good. It’s all rather tantalizing, almost too good to be true. But there are others who say it worked for them, and why should we disagree?
If we just got that promotion, or bought that great red sports car we’ve always wanted, well, man, that would be worth it. Some say we’re pipe-dreamers, but what do they know? We know happiness when we see it, don’t we?
Then there’s that woman down the road – mate, get in with her and there’s no stopping: happy as Larry.
Sure, Larry committed suicide, but he didn’t have life like we do. I don’t think so anyway.
I heard though that God didn’t send a text message. You’d think he would, wouldn’t you? It’s how everyone talks nowadays. He didn’t even send a memo. Or a fax. Not even a photograph. Or a letter.
He sent his Son. I’ve heard it’s because of love. But you know love, actually – it’s so over-rated. Intimacy, that’s what I heard. He loved us so much he wanted to know us at the core of who we are. He wasn’t satisfied with superficial pleasantries or polite conversation. He wanted to know who we really are, beneath the new suit, red sports-car, great promotion, million bucks.
What is it they say about Greeks bearing gifts?
There is something quite authentic about him, something quite real about it all. There are things that tell me the way, pretend to be the truth and say they’ll give me life. But only when I saw the manger, wept at the Cross, stood amazed at the empty tomb, did I find the way, the truth and the life.
I’d go for the manger over the Trojan horse any day.
