Dear Friends,
When I was a Pastor in a local church setting I realized I did a little of everything. That isn’t very far from the dangerous idea that I do everything. Lets talk a bit about doing and everything. This is very helpful to do during the Season of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is our time to prepare for the coming of God into our lives. I think it is crucial to reflect, or to use the word I love – ponder, what God coming into our lives would mean. What do we have to DO to experience that gift? Does it mean God expects me to DO EVERYTHING to make Christmas a reality?
If we ponder, as Mary did, everything that happened we will come up with some significant conclusions. Did the characters of the Christmas Story Do anything? Well yes and no. Yes they played their parts, but no they didn’t make it happen. A subtle but crucial difference. Mary had to say yes to the angel Gabriel’s request of being faithful to God, but no she didn’t make the birth happen by lying with Joseph. Joseph had to say yes to the angels by going to Bethlehem, but no they did not bring everyone’s attention to God coming into the world. I think you get the idea. We listen to God’s calling and follow it, but the ultimate responsibility for anything happening is up to God. So what we learn from the story is we do a little bit of everything. We seek out the gift we are and let God inspire us into the form our gift will take.
It is so easy to also fall into the trap of feeling like we have to DO EVERYTHING, especially at Christmas time. Others aren’t following through, so we need to do their part. Even God, at times, doesn’t seem to understand the importance of something happening. Or we have so many gifts and talents and can do so many things well it is easier for us to do it. This is especially tempting with our children. God knows, some things have to be done perfectly or even well if God is to be a part of them. Children can’t do things as well as we can. Being human is a messy business and sometimes God rejoices in our yes even if there are failures along the way. My prayer life has taught me how to get out of the way, which gives me the opportunity in seasons like Christmas to join Mary in pondering what is happening. The birth story is filled with the smell of a stable, animals providing warmth and the least of these, the shepherds being the less than elegant witnesses. God comes into life where we live it. We don’t have to clean up our inner homes for God to feel at home in us.
Maybe the Advent and Christmas Season God is asking us to DO less so EVERYTHING God has in mind can come our way. Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel on Your terms.
Peace,
Gary
