"Here With Us" performed by our local artist Andrea Hall. 

"It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky."

On Sunday, we lit the Advent candle for Peace. On Monday, Bonnie Henry let us know that the restrictions aimed at flattening the curve of this second wave of the pandemic would be continuing throughout Christmas.

I wonder if anyone grumbled about Caesar Augustus requiring them to go home for a government census (Luke 2)? And yet they did it and, even though it inconvenienced them terribly, it resulted in the beginning of a story told far and wide for two thousand years:

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register."

I imagine if this story were taking place here today, it would sound something like (and I say this tongue-in-cheek): "In those days Bonnie Henry issued a decree that families should be staying home for the entire Christmas holiday. (This was the second set of restrictions that took place while John Horgan was premier of British Columbia.) And everyone hunkered down for Christmas."

The best part is, whether it is Caesar Augustus or Bonnie Henry (who is plenty more likeable) making the decrees, God is with us through it all.

God's hands measured the sky, and curled around Mary's finger.

We may not know how yet, but even here God will meet us.