The simplicity of baptism is a deeper story than we will ever understand. We tried to become like God - not just His image but His power - and we failed - that's the Creation story. Since we could not become God - God became like us - that's the Christmas story. Jesus got baptized and walked this earth showing everyone how to forgive and love and live - all things we should know but forgot because we are still obsessed with becoming God - that's the Lenten story. Not a surprise, but turns out we weren't big fans of God showing up and living a holy life - as any two year old can say, "I do it myself" - so we nailed Jesus to a tree - that's the Good Friday Story. The only thing you can do with a dead body is bury it - Jesus didn't have His own grave so He borrowed one and they put Him in it on Friday afternoon - and that gave everyone time to think about what it means when God is dead - that's the Holy Saturday Story. That should be the end of the story - but it's not. Turns out when you bury God - He just gets up and walks out of the tomb - and instead of running around smiting everyone because they killed Him - He forgives people and loves people and says He will never die again - which is the Easter Story.

God doesn't stop there. Even after Jesus went back home to heaven, He continues to hold out His nail-scarred hands through His church - crying out, "Peace be with you" to anyone and everyone who is willing to listen. He calls you by name. He forgives you. He resurrects you. And one day He will take you home to heaven so you can experience life - your life that was supposed to be before sin messed things up. That is your Story and it all starts with your baptism.

Do you know how I know someone really loves me? When I am sweaty and stinky and look like I haven't showered in a month and someone says, "give me a hug!" And I respond, "I stink!" And they say, "so what - give me a big hug anyway!" - that's when I know they love me. They don't love me only when I smell good or do the right things or act a certain way - they love me for who I am.

We always picture the magi showing up in these really expensive robes and jeweled crowns and smelling like the perfume section at Sephora - but how would you smell - what would you look like if you spent four months wandering through the desert? I'm kind of thinking they were as ripe as those stinky shepherds on Christmas Eve. It wasn't about them - it was about Jesus - the Baby who came to bring life and light and maybe some air freshener.

The first time I remember hearing about postpartum depression was when a famous singer - someone who is my age and who I listened to when I was in high school - left her baby with the babysitter, got in her car and drove off with no real intention of ever coming back. Because she had a loving family and they didn't give up - she got the help she needed and worked through the depression. She noted what drove her away was when all the dreams and romanticism surrounding having children and being a family didn't happen the way it was supposed to.

Being faced with the sinful reality of why God had to send His Son into our world is something the world tends to leave out during all the Christmas festivities. It's a complicated compartmentalization - with all the death and destruction on one side of the news and Santa and his elves on the other side. We work so hard at believing that if we get the right gifts - spend enough money - eat enough cookies - drink enough egg nog - all the bad stuff will just go away. And when it doesn't - the world settles into a severe postpartum depression - leaving the baby behind with a sitter and driving off with no intention of coming back until the next Black Friday sales.