Good News of Great Joy

“Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”

— Luke 2:10

The heart of the Christmas story does not begin in a sanctuary or a palace. It begins in the fields, at night, among shepherds—men who lived on the margins of society, trusted with animals but rarely with respect. When the angels appear, their first words are not instruction or correction, but reassurance: Do not be afraid.

That alone tells us something important about God.

The angels do not announce Christ’s birth to the powerful or the pious. They come to those who were accustomed to being overlooked. And the message they bring is not selective or guarded: it is “good news of great joy for all the people.” Before there is a manger, before there are wise men, before there is any theology to debate, there is this simple proclamation—joy, freely offered.

For LGBTQ+ Christians, Christmas can be complicated. Many of us carry memories of worship spaces where our presence felt conditional, or family gatherings where silence pressed harder than words. We know what it is to stand just outside the circle, listening carefully for signs of welcome. And yet, the first Christmas announcement was made to people who were already used to standing outside.

That is not accidental.

The incarnation—the Word becoming flesh—means that God chose closeness over distance. God did not shout salvation from heaven; God entered human life completely. Born into poverty. Dependent on others. Vulnerable. Luke tells us that Mary wrapped the child in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough. There is no triumphal display here, only tenderness. Only presence.

Isaiah speaks of a child born for us, a son given—not as a threat, but as a gift. This child is called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. Peace, not conformity. Nearness, not exclusion. The Christmas story insists that God’s love is not abstract or theoretical; it arrives embodied, specific, and astonishingly ordinary.

And when the shepherds hear the angels’ song, they do not stay put. They go. They seek. They trust that the message is truly meant for them. When they find the child, Scripture says they return glorifying and praising God—not because their lives have suddenly become easier, but because they have been seen.

That matters.

This season, you may feel joyful—or weary, or guarded, or unsure how much of yourself you can safely bring into sacred spaces. Wherever you are, hear this clearly: the Christmas story does not require you to earn your place. God has already come looking for you. Emmanuel—God with us—means God with us in our real lives, not our edited ones.

As we draw closer to Christmas, may we remember that the good news was first spoken to those least likely to expect it. And may that same message still echo for us today:

Do not be afraid. This joy is for you, too.

Nat King Cole · Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Remastered 1999)

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Moment of Zen: Gray Sweatpants Season

It’s that time of year when the weather cools, comfort becomes essential, and gray sweatpants give us more than one reason to appreciate the view. As Mother Nature turns the skies gray, gray sweatpants quietly put nature’s handiwork on display.

Paris Music · It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Originally Performed By Andy Williams)

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Friday Reflection

Yesterday’s meeting went well, and now I’m in that familiar in-between space: the waiting. There’s nothing to do at this point except let it unfold as it will. I feel good about the conversation, and for now, that’s enough.

Today I’m working from home, though it’s one of those days where there isn’t much on the agenda beyond a few emails and tying up loose ends. I’m not complaining. Sometimes a lighter day is exactly what’s needed after a week that carried a bit of nervous energy.

I don’t have any real plans for the weekend, and honestly, that feels just fine. I’m looking forward to the next episode of Heated Rivalry, and beyond that it’ll be the usual small, grounding things: a few chores around the apartment, some reading, and plenty of time to just relax and recharge.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend—whether it’s full and busy or slow and quiet in all the best ways.

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A Short Thursday Update

I’m off work today, and tomorrow I’ll be working from home, which means I don’t have to step foot back in the office until Monday. Honestly, that small buffer feels like a gift. I have an appointment this morning that I’m anxious about, even though I’ve been preparing myself for it for over a week now. I keep reminding myself to breathe, stay calm, and trust that I’ve done what I can.

If the appointment goes well—and if I’m feeling motivated enough afterward—I want to go to Planet Fitness today. My goal is simple: don’t let myself talk my way out of going. I know that once I get back into a routine, I’ll feel better for it, but breaking the inertia is always the hardest part.

Short post today, I know, but my mind is on other things. I hope everyone has a peaceful Thursday and an even more peaceful weekend ahead.

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Getting Back to the Gym… Eventually

I really need to start going back to the gym. I haven’t been since those back problems started in July—other than two very short, half-hearted attempts—and every time I tell myself I’ll go after work, it somehow never happens. My orthopedist has encouraged me to ease back into it, but good intentions and actual follow-through don’t always line up, especially when your couch keeps whispering sweet nothings.

I had enjoyed working out… though I’ll admit that might have had a little something to do with my very cute trainer at the time. He showed me what to do, corrected my posture, kept me motivated—and now he’s no longer a trainer, which leaves me feeling a bit intimidated. Without someone there to guide me, I’m suddenly aware of how little I really know about what to do at the gym.

Planet Fitness’s app has videos and instructions for all their machines—upper body, core, lower body, plus whatever I choose for cardio (let’s be honest, it will be the treadmill). I could absolutely follow a routine from that. The problem is less about knowledge and more about confidence, or maybe inertia. I keep telling myself that if I could get into a rhythm again, I’d probably enjoy it. But step one is, annoyingly, simply making myself go.

And let’s be honest: the eye candy is definitely a motivator. Gyms always have eye candy. Unfortunately, it’s also the eye candy that makes me feel intimidated—like everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing while I’m still figuring out which way to face on a machine. It’s hard to look confident when your inner monologue is, “Does this adjust up? Down? Am I about to embarrass myself?”

I need to check whether they’ve hired a new trainer and, if so, get on their schedule. I think having someone there who actually knows what they’re doing would help me feel a lot less lost.

I’m off work tomorrow. I have a meeting—one I’m both excited about and nervous about. For once, it’s something I don’t want to talk about yet. Depending on how it goes, I may share more later. What I am hoping, though, is that after the meeting I’ll be able to ride that momentum straight to the gym. Optimism versus intimidation… we’ll see who wins.

Here’s hoping tomorrow brings clarity—and maybe the spark to get me back on the treadmill too.

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