The Holy

I have always been a bit shy about angels.  I know they show up all over the place in the Christmas story which is, of course, not the only page of the Scripture where they appear.  They are not partial to the New Testament since they show up in the Old Testament as well.  There is the angel Gabriel who appeared to Daniel and again to announce the birth of Jesus.  There are also the famous "angels unaware" (Hebrews 13:2) who show up when you least expect it and a host of others as the moment merits it.  I know they are mentioned often in the Word and I know they are as "they" say "all around."  

My problem has always been with the way folks talk about angels.  They often are spoken of as some buddy who hangs around unseen.  They linger on the four corners of the bedposts, on the head of a pin, and surely must bump into each other as the hover over us.  While I know it all sounds a bit sacrilegious, and I do not mean to be, such familiarity with the sacred has always been somewhat troubling.  For example, I know Jesus spoke of calling us friends, but I still cringe when someone speaks of Jesus being "my buddy, " or God as "the man upstairs."

I suppose I am a little old fashioned, or maybe too hung up with the traditional.  I will blame my mother.  She taught me growing up to address my elders not by their first name, but as Mr. or Mrs.  She said to treat people, especially the older ones, with respect.  She felt the same way about God.  God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit and those of the heavenly realm have been around a long time.  I will continue to show respect and honor and reverence for the Holy present in our midst not because of age, but because the One who created us is the set apart and the Holy One.