Center

It's the first Sunday of Advent.

I'm not sure I've ever selected a word around which to organize

my Advent meditations before, but if I were choosing THIS year,

I'd choose "center".

This became clear to me as we began to put this jigsaw puzzle together.

Our usual approach to puzzling is to first piece together the border. 

It clearly wasn't going to work this time!

And so we began at the center.

It was an AHA MOMENT for me as I observed

- and not coincidentally -

it was Jesus who was at the center of the center.

Just where He belongs.

Thinking of Jesus this morning,

I compiled phrases from many translations of the last phrase of Colossians 1:18.

Here is the result:

(in order that) that in all things (every aspect, at every view, everything, in all things, in every respect) He (Himself) might (come to) have the preeminence (will occupy the first place, be first, stand supreme, hold first place, hold the primacy, hold the first dignity, be above all others, be far above, be preeminent, has supremacy, far above, is most important, would be far above everything).

 From the center of me to my "borders"

(all and any of the peripherals of daily living)

may He hold first and final place.
Center of the center.