Splendor and beauty mark God's craft; whose generosity never gives out, whose miracles are God's memorial—this God of Grace, this God of Love.
(Psalm 111, from The Message)
It feels like the work of the Holy Spirit, that I am starting this
Advent Journey, this walk to the Bethlehem manger, with this scripture reading. Because my world has gotten really small these past nine months. I used to see God’s works all the time: when I flew up to Montana, when I drove through Wyoming, and I hiked through Colorado and Utah. God’s works were so evident and so great and filled me with endless enjoyment.
But all these months
of avoiding COVID has shrunk my world. And it is really hard. I miss simple
things, like whenever I had trouble getting past writers block, I would head to
a Starbucks and work there. Mind you, I don’t drink coffee, but there was
something about the atmosphere that always helped me focus.
I miss movie dates.
I miss meeting
friends at a restaurant.
I miss seeing family
in person.
What are things you
have missed over these past months?
I confess that I am
getting a bit impatient in the face of these restrictions, and when I get
impatient I get a little cranky. Maybe you are too.
And all those feelings are really messing with what I crave
this time of year: the anticipation and joy of the coming of Christ at
Christmas. I mean, how am I supposed to feel joy when I can’t gather with
people I love? Where is celebration to be found if I can’t invite the
conference staff to our home for the annual white elephant party? How can I
experience that profound peace if I can’t look forward to raising my candle in
a dimly lit church and sing Silent night together?
And there is that scripture that literally fell into my lap
this morning:
Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've
got—Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God's works are so
great, worth a lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark God's craft;
whose generosity never gives out, whose miracles are God's
memorial—this God of Grace, this God of Love.
(Psalm 111, from The Message)
How right it is to ponder this scripture as we begin our
Advent journey this year. God didn’t wait until all was right with the world to
enter it. God didn’t wait until disease was eradicated to come to us. God didn’t
wait until political infighting found resolution, God didn’t wait until
oppression and injustice were vanquished before making a home with us.
It was into the very mess of the world, into a country that
was being held captive by Rome, to a people who had known slavery and
oppression, to a family that knew scandal because of an unplanned pregnancy,
into all of this, God came.
And so God will again break into our world. And at the start
of Advent, we are called to make our way to the manger to experience yet again
Emmanuel, which means God with us.
As you make your way to Bethlehem, as your heart prepares him
room, may you open your eyes and hearts to God’s grace, God’s love, God’s
miracles. A God whose generosity never runs out. In the midst of these very
days we are living, may you give thanks to God with everything you've got
And may you sing:
O come, O come,
Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou
Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
