A tiny giggle slipped out as I whispered to my daughter, “Is that even a word?”

It was Christmas time, and I was visiting her and my son-in-law on the island of Guam.  The pastor of the church went on to share a message about living spiritually nimble or agile lives using Mary, Joseph and the wise men as examples.  Here is my condensed version of his message:

Mary’s life was going great!  She was engaged to a good man and looking forward to her wedding.  Everybody in the village would show up to this joyous social event until… the angel’s message about her coming pregnancy blew up that dream and put her in real danger of being stoned to death. Her response was remarkable, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May everything you have said about me come true…” Luke 1:38. Spiritually agile.

How Joseph must have struggled with the legal, moral, personal and societal implications of Mary’s pregnancy.  What was he to do? He did not want her killed but obviously, he could not marry her now, except the angel’s message from God was he was to do exactly that. Spiritually agile! 

Finally! The baby boy was born in Bethlehem where they had traveled for the Roman census. A bunch of shepherds came by the stable with an amazing report of angelic visitation and left rejoicing, and telling everybody what had happened!

The little family settled into life until… ‘wise men from the East’ arrived with what scholars believe would have been a large company of people including their private army.  Another message from God quickly followed, “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother…” Matthew 2:13. They left that night.  Spiritually agile!

The star the wise men had followed had led them to the King of the Jews where they had worshipped and delivered their highly symbolic and expensive gifts. Surely their GPS directions would take them back the way they came. They had promised to bring word back to Herod until… the angelic messenger was clear; they were to find another way home.  Spiritually agile!

How do we live spiritually agile lives in a world which seems determined to tie us down to things, places and people? Are we able or willing to pivot on command? To be spiritually agile?

It is fitting there were so many military personnel in church that Christmas in Guam. Their lives and service are marked by “agility”, lived with the awareness that they could be ordered anywhere at any time. Their example is inspiration and aspiration.

As followers of Jesus, we too are in service… to the Lord God of Heaven’s armies. 

“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has sent before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”  Hebrews 12:1-2