Quirky is the polite, more socially acceptable word for eccentric. The first is seen as cute or endearing while the second borders on the off-putting and aberrant. Most people tend to be predictable and palatable enough to not earn either of these labels. Personally, I have been called quirky with great regularity throughout my life, so I have had plenty of time to consider its implication for how others view me.
To those who have called me quirky through the years, have no fear, I do not begrudge your word choice. If the shoe fits right? One reason I have yet to take offense at the occasional quirky/eccentric label is that I am in good company.
Scripture is full of the good kind of crazy that leaves people scratching their heads and a little bemused. John the Baptist certainly fits the bill since odd wardrobe and dietary choices are amongst the easiest ways to earn the quirky moniker. I guess that’s one way to build a reputation. He was neither predictable nor palatable to many.
God Himself seems at times to delight in the quirky and odd. A burning bush? Or how about a speaking donkey? A speech-impaired servant like Moses as His emissary to the most powerful ruler of the day? The list of unpredictable movements of God goes on and on.
Perhaps the biggest oddity of all is the Word made flesh in Christ Jesus.
Seriously.
Who could come up with this stuff?
Many in Israel, who had a long history of promises and prophecies from God Himself, were unable to anticipate the strange turn of events at Christ’s birth. They had clear and specific expectations for a Savior but still couldn’t quite grasp the promise of Immanuel, God with us.
A virgin birth to a girl of no special lineage in a stable was unexpected even though scripture pretty clearly spelled it out for people. That God Himself would take on flesh and come to dwell with His people was something they just couldn’t comprehend.
A cursory look at typical religious life in Jesus’ day shows that people generally liked a predictable and palatable God. Predictable was profitable and powerful for those in the know. Palatable would have struck a chord with people's desire for political or social clout.
Not much has changed in that regard during the past 2,000 years. People, ourselves included, love the safety and comfort that comes from predictable and palatable. The problem is, just because something is predictable due to regular occurrence that doesn't mean it should actually be desirable in our lives. Take the Minnesota Vikings and their ability to dash the hopes of their fans in inglorious ways. The same goes of palatable things. Just because we have acquired the taste for something (cheering for the Vikings) doesn't mean it is actually good for us.
When we look at Christmas, we get a heavy does of the unexpected. God showed up in a manger. Unpredictable and unpalatable for any king, let alone the King of Kings. It was a quirky, odd, and God-ordained way for God to show that His rule and reign are not quite what we would expect.
This Christmas I challenge you to let the quirky ways of God surprise you once again. He is predictable in fulfilling all His promises but the way he does so should fill us with wonder and delight. Part of the magic of Christmas are the quirky, mysterious, and unexpected things that we see in the nativity.
Take time to reflect on the unexpected and endearing quirkiness of a God who continues to surprise us. Even today He shows up in ways we don’t anticipate. When plans don’t go as you hoped, when stress seems to be running high, slow down and look for a quirky gift from God that only He could deliver.
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