There aren't really words for what we experience in the coming of Jesus into the world. We can, and do, try to express our wonder in words, but the words I use and the experiences I share may be significant to me, but they're not going to express your wonder. They may powerfully move me, but they probably won't move you the same way. And that is fine, for the other 50 or so services in the year, but it's not sufficient on Christmas Eve, when we celebrate the incarnation.

For each of us we have to wrestle with the miracle of incarnation for ourselves. Because that is the only way for us to begin to understand what God is doing in each of us that is different than what God is doing in everyone else. Christmas eve reminds us that God approaches each of us in unexpected ways, and with different, and contextual, blessings. Think of the differences in the way God approached Mary, and Joseph, and the Shepherds, and the Wise Men.

The best we can do on Christmas Eve is to shine a light on the wonder, and let the wonder of God shine back for us all.