Before we arrive at Christmas, I’d like to invite you to take a pause.
A deep breath.
A moment of stillness.
It is such a cliche to talk about how busy the “Christmas” (read: Advent) season is, and yet cliches often become cliches because they bare some truth which comes up again and again. I’ve thought about this phenomenon, prayed about it, a great deal throughout my life as a pastor, even as I have contributed to it, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we try to pack so much into this, the darkest season of the year.
I think it’s human nature to feel the changing of the seasons, to slow down during the colder, darker months, to become more reflective. For those of us who are less comfortable with self-reflection, or down time, or alone time, this can be difficult. Our very nature to look for as many opportunities as we can to gather with friends and family, to celebrate, to hang lights - to push back against the darkness by any means available to us.
I also don’t believe it's a coincidence that we celebrate the in-breaking of God’s reconciliation, God’s hope, God’s light into the world during this time.
The difference, maybe, is that God’s light, this baby, Jesus, doesn’t come as a floodlight to fight back against the darkness, or false cheer to distract us a little longer from self-reflection. Rather, Christ comes as a gentle candle, offering just enough light to allow us the ability to find comfort in the darkness, in the being rather than the doing.
This Advent season, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ’s light in the world, look for those opportunities to engage in just enough “doing” that you find peace in the being.
Don’t worry, we’ll “be” right here with you.
Pastor Brian and the people of Broadway United Methodist Church
Advent Booklet by teefletch