Today is the day that a few Christian traditions remember the angel Gabriel visiting an unsuspecting teenager in Nazareth (Luke 1).

I have heard Mary's perspective preached again and again. The lesson that although you have no idea what you are really in store for, we should respond to God's "call" with a "let it be done in accordance with your will".

But today I wonder about Gabriel. I wonder about God. I wonder if they sat, holding their breath, waiting for Mary to answer. Perhaps Mary took her time. Sat in stunned silence for a couple of hours. Then laid in bed staring at the ceiling. Perhaps to get her mind off the decision she baked a cake. Then she wanted to check the validity of Gabriel's angelic-ness so she asked him to do all kinds of angel tricks.

I don't know how long it took her to respond and what kind of consideration she gave it. But I imagine that Gabriel, along with the rest of heaven, was on the edge of their seat. Silently begging for the teenage virgin to agree to this wild idea.

I can't help but wonder if God is still waiting on me to answer. You to answer. Us to answer.

We have heard the wild ideas. What and when will we answer?