Good morning Hump Day readers. I hope all is well with you as we get through these major storms. We are even getting frost here in north Phoenix along with sleet the other night. Not our desert’s “warm-winter playground!” However, hiding behind all that ‘undercover’ snow will be WATER—and the West needs water indeed! The run-off into the Colorado River will be a God-send to us here in Arizona for sure.

I always enjoyed the TV show Undercover Boss where CEO’s came down from their ‘thrones’ to work side-by-side with their employees. Wow—did they learn a lot about them and even more so, themselves. They were well-disguised so the employees didn’t realize who they were so imagine the “earfuls” those bosses heard, especially when they learned that their company was lacking in technology, not keeping its promises, and so much more. When the time came to reveal who they were to the employees they worked with, I’m not sure who gained more from the relationship! It truly created life-changes for them all. In 2023 they are going to do another 6-weeks episode and I can’t wait to see more life-giving transformations.

Isn’t this “undercover boss” thing like Advent? We wait with anticipation (or not) and then it’s Christmas! Jesus arrives once again in our nativities. In a way, Jesus was our ‘under-cover boss’ watching us in all our strife and struggles from his home in heaven. You can almost hear the Father say to his Son, “it’s time to get down there and help our children.” So, Jesus set aside his throne and humbled himself to be born of a virgin in a manger with animals, with the lowest reception being shepherds, and 33 years of living as a human. For Jesus, it didn’t end well—crucifixion is a horrible death. Jesus knew that was coming but He also knew the ending—resurrection and eternal life for His beloved children. That is why He was willing to lay aside his ‘CEO status’ to bring His children home!

The Message translation best articulates John’s Gospel in 1:14 the best: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”  In this famous passage the Greek literally says that “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.” How true this is because Jesus didn’t have a ‘house’ – He had no place to lay His head, and was much like the nomadic Bedouins who lived in tents and moved constantly. Jesus experienced the struggles, heartache, and pain that each one of us goes through in life. Like those commercials on TV, “Jesus gets us” and aren’t we glad He does?!

Jesus entered the world disguised as a baby—talk about ‘undercover’ and no fanfare! But, at 30 years old He began His ministry and the ‘covers’ came off. Jesus told His followers and anyone who listened exactly who He was. Greater than the bonuses or promotions the TV bosses gave, the gift Jesus brought was our adoption into God’s family, a gift that never ends. And talk about bonuses—we get ETERNITY—who could ever guarantee such a gift? Only God our loving Father, Jesus our Savior and Lord, and the Holy Spirit who works in our hearts to never forget this incredible “promotion and bonus!”

Think of the ‘undercover-work’ of gift-giving to your loved ones. You hope they love what you gave them and when they squeal with delight your heart leaps. Sometimes the opposite happens and that’s such a downer because you really tried to get them something they would love, but it wasn’t what they wanted. Imagine how Jesus feels when we “open His package of love” and ‘sigh’ rather than being grateful. Even though He died on the cross for us that just “wasn’t the gift we wanted.” Yet Jesus doesn’t give up—ever! He pursues us because of His great love, because we are His children—His beloved children!

I think we could say that Jesus is our glorious boss—our King who reveals himself to us daily, and yet can be a bit of our ‘undercover boss’ as He works behind the scenes in our lives, making the crooked roads straight and through Holy Spirit, constantly teaching us all that we need to live and love our life of faith here on earth.

In closing I beg you on this Christmas, don’t ignore His incredible gift of eternal life. Instead, embrace it year-long because, you see, whether you want Jesus’ gift or not, that will not stop Him from loving you! He has already “moved into your neighborhood and pitched His tent in your heart, soul, body and mind” waiting for your heart to join His. Jesus loves you so much He doesn’t want to leave you and that is the best present you can have and share with others, AMEN!