The Bible says they were "eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" -- the everydayness of everyday. This is the time of year for Christmas parties. Perhaps you have been at a Christmas party and heard a conversation similar to this: "How are you doing?" "Oh, I'm doing fine." "What do you think about this weather? I heard it might snow." "Yeah?" "I heard it might snow." "Do you think it will snow?" "Well, Neal Pascal said that it might snow, and it's cold enough to snow." "I might have to change my plans if it does snow!"

"Do you recognize that couple over there?" "Well, I don't know them personally, but I have heard about them. "He owns a small business near the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and I have heard that at Christmas he takes money out of his own pocket, not out of the company till, and gives his employees a bonus, talks to them personally and tells them how he appreciates what they have done for him."

"He teaches a Sunday School class at the Baptist church, and I understand that on Christmas Eve his Sunday School class goes to the downtown soup kitchen and serves dinner to the homeless."

"I've heard about her. During the Christmas season she takes in foreign exchange students who don't have a place to go during the holidays."

"Wow, that's extraordinary!"

"Yes, it is."

"What are you going to do for Christmas this year?"

"Oh, we'll probably get together like we always do and swap some gifts...if it doesn't snow."

"Yeah, if it doesn't snow."

They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage -- the everydayness of everyday.

Several years ago David Storch checked out from the Brooklyn Public Library a script of Handel's Messiah. Due to an error by a clerk, it was not recorded. When another came to check it out, they could not find it. A library-wide search ensued. They looked up one side and down the other in search of Handel's Messiah, but no one could find it.

Several days later when David Storch returned it to the collection desk, the librarian looked at it and said, "Oh, the Messiah is back! The Messiah is here!" "The Messiah is here!" The exclamation went throughout the library. The workers began to exclaim to each other, "The Messiah is here! The Messiah is here!" The New York Times article said, "In a few minutes, they all went back to work." They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage -- the everydayness of everyday.

Jesus said, "They missed it!" They missed it in Noah's day. They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. What's wrong with that? Isn't that what we're supposed to do? I mean, it is not as if life should have more or is it? With every plank that Noah put in that ark, he was preaching a sermon to his entire generation, "Get ready, God is coming!" "Get ready!" "Watch out!"

They missed it! It was happening right before them. Some workers, no doubt, worked on the boat, but when it set sail, they were treading water. Is it possible for something to be happening all around us, right under our noses, and we miss it entirely?