A Peaceful Environment
There's something about being in the woods in winter after a snowfall. The fresh snow mutes sound and everything is still. It's easy to feel peace in that environment. It's natural to stop and admire the surrounding beauty; until your fingers go numb and you need to get moving to stay warm, of course. I haven't done too much snowshoeing, but every time I've gone it's been one of the more peaceful and calming physical activities I've done.
Personally, I have found that the more removed and isolated I am from nature, the more difficult it is for me to find moments of peace. Repeatedly, when I need moments for reflection and introspection, I seek time in nature. It gives me the space and disconnection from the frenetic pace of our current lives that I deeply crave.
It's not always possible to run away to the woods, or whatever natural environment brings you peace, in order to find peace. So then the task becomes finding ways to bring that feeling of peace into our present circumstances. Bringing in plants or greenery, finding a candle or other scent that reminds you of a location you felt peace, playing music or sounds that remind you of that place: these are all ways to bring that environment to you.
As you continue your preparations for the upcoming year, evaluate your space and environment. What can you do to make it more peaceful? How can you bring nature more into your environment? How can you make time to get outside?
Prepare the Way for Peace
As I was preparing for this series of advent posts, I knew that week one would touch on heavier topics, but I didn't expect how challenging some of the topics would be. However, in order to improve and change, it is necessary to rip off the blinders and expose things that normally stay in the shadows to the light.
After confronting the heartache and brokenness, it is important to take some time for peace. I long for peace in my home and surroundings. Sometimes I do better at finding peace that at other times. Like so many other things in life, peace doesn't come by accident. It requires cultivation and intention.
I cannot control the world around me, but I can control my responses to it. Do my responses promote peace or conflict? Have I found a way to interact with people with differing opinions and beliefs in a way that is respectful and promotes peace?
In "Shadow & Light", Tsh Oxenreider also frames this second week of advent as a week of preparation. It was difficult for me to make a connection between peace and preparation until I recalled that, as part of the Armour of God, we are to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15)
Peace requires preparation in all aspects of our lives - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. As we approach this time of new beginnings, take some time to seek peace. Slow down and step away from the chaos of the season to rest in peace.
Pandora
In Greek mythology, Pandora was entrusted with a jar or box yet told to never open it. Inevitably, she opened the box and unleashed 7 evils on the world. Yet one thing remained, hope. As this first week of advent concludes, it is a time to reflect one last time on this theme of hope. The topics this week were heavy and uncomfortable. Yet there would be no need for Christmas if there was no need for hope and a Savior. We must acknowledge the human condition in order to have any hope of changing it.
We can't hope without acknowledging that something is wrong and needs to change. Hope for better things can be a strong motivator to keep going when things get difficult. Yet at times it's difficult to hope. When we focus on the shadows, it's easy to lose hope. The magnitude of the problems are so great. And on an individual basis, we don't make much of an impact.
But one of the beauties of humanity is what happens when we join forces. The impact of unified effort can be exponential. We must never lose hope. This advent, look for the light and actively seek ways to make a difference. Find others who also want to make a difference. Find opportunities to be hope. Start small. A smile and a kind word. A letter in the mail. Listening to someone else's experiences. Find someone with different ideas and beliefs from your own and have a conversation. Not to argue and prove why you are right, but to find the elements that we have in common.
As you begin the new year, take time for reflection. Make sharing hope part of your routine. When you are making your goals and intentions, leave space for sharing hope.
Shadows
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
In his writing "The Republic", Plato shared the "Allegory of the Cave". In this piece, he writes about a group of people who are chained together with a fire behind them and people walking in front of them as shadows, carrying images that represent objects and creatures from the outside world. However, because the people in the cave have never been outside, they don't know these are just copies, they believe they are the real thing. When one of their number breaks out and sees the truth, he goes back to share it with the others still in the cave, yet they don't believe him.
There is one aspect of this story that I would like to focus on. The people that grew up in the shadows that could not comprehend the truth. How often do we get so wrapped up in what we've experienced, what we grew up with, what we've been taught, that we don't allow room in our minds for the possibility that these things are mere shadows of something greater, or something different. How often do we apply this to ourselves and limit what we are capable of only to what we've heard or seen or done already. I am guilty of this. Believing the shadows cast by my words to myself and the words of other people.
1 Corinthians 13 is commonly known as the love chapter because it focuses on attributes of love. Yet at the conclusion of the chapter, verse 12 states "For now we see through a glass darkly...". I have yet to see the conclusion of my life. I am more than the lies I tell myself. I see through a shadowed glass of brokenness and failure. But I am more than my failures and brokenness.
I have come to the conclusion that when we refuse to face the truth in one area, it makes us more vulnerable to falling for lies in another area. Advent is a time to break free of the shadows and come face to face with the light of truth. This year, seek truth and seek light. Just like when you turn on a bright light in a dark room, or walk into sunlight from a dark building, the light of truth can be uncomfortable because it illuminates things we didn't really want to confront. The only path to breaking free of the shadows is walking into the light, acknowledging where we were wrong in order to grow.
May You Find a Light
In the northern hemisphere, Advent and Christmas are celebrated at the darkest time of the year. The importance of light is amplified by the surrounding darkness. In their song "May You Find a Light", John Arndt and David Gungor explore this topic through the lens of weary travelers seeking both a home and to be known.
“May you find a light to guide you home”
Home, a place we all seek. Some have found home, but others are still seeking it. They may have a place to stay, but yet it's not home. Homelessness, loneliness, abuse, addiction, poverty, shame: these are the words that describe home for many. They are the shadows and brokenness present in this world. Yet we all seek a place to belong and to be known.
To me, a true home is a place of peace and rest. It is not defined by a building or biological ties. It is a place of safety and refuge, the safe port in the storm. Home is a place of growth. That being said, home is not a place for perfection. There will be misunderstandings, differences of opinion, times of correction. But what makes it home is the nurturing of love and respect regardless of the circumstances. True sorrow and forgiveness in the wake of contention. Keeping home is work; mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But it is worth the seeking and the effort.
Feel the freedom this season to define what home is for you. Write it down. Be intentional about pursuing that home. Do those things that are in your power to begin the journey home. My prayer this advent is that the lost and broken find the light of home and belonging.
If you have found home, be a light and example to others that are seeking home. Show them what a true home can be. Make an effort this season to help a weary traveler find their way home.
Photo by Maksym Mazur on Unsplash
Blink of An Eye
One of the highways I take to work is an interstate with a speed limit of 70 miles per hour. People rarely drive the speed limit. Over time, the speed people are comfortable driving seems to creep higher and higher. It is not unusual for me to get passed by people going 90 or faster. It's tempting to just go with the flow of traffic, but there is value in slowing down, even on a boring drive. And yes, I'm that person driving you crazy going the speed limit in the slow lane. For me, it's one way to lower the stress of the commute.
But then there are times when the decision to slow down is taken completely out of your hands. Tonight was a perfect example of that. Some unexpected winter weather came through and turned the roads to ice. This meant the highway slowed to a crawl as people adjusted their driving to match conditions. If they didn't, they found themselves losing control, landing in a ditch, getting in an accident, spinning out in the road.
Many times in our life we run into the same thing. We race from one thing to another, one celebration to another, neglecting the time in between. But then something comes crashing in that forces us to slow down. It may be an illness, loss of a job or some other event that completely disrupts daily life. Life slows to a crawl and we are forced into a season of waiting.
There is so much push for hustle. Some people have to hustle in order to survive, but many choose it as a way of life. There's no room for slowing down and waiting, which leads to burnout, stress, and health issues in the long term. But there's an alternative. Choosing to slow down and lean into waiting. Training our bodies and minds to slow down and wait is a worthwhile endeavor. This could take the form of practicing mindfulness, journaling, or simply putting the phone down to spend time with someone in person, giving them your full attention.
How are you planning to lean into the time of waiting this Advent season?
Hope to the Hopeless
The holidays can be the hardest time of year. Illness, poverty, loss, loneliness, abandonment. All these are magnified by the hustle and bustle of the joyful facade. The smile turns to a grimace and the countdown to Christmas is for a very different reason. The number of days until it's all finally over.
We must never forget the broken, the hurting, the fearful.
I think about this often. How can I show love and compassion to someone in a way that isn't patronizing? I am not outgoing, and I'm generally uncomfortable around people. These are some of the things I have come up with so far.
1. Give anonymously to specific people you know are in need.
2. Be kind and patient with people and give them grace. I am still working on this one and fall short often. However, I try to be more intentional about it this time of year.
3. Open your home to people who don't have anywhere else to go for the holidays. This is a bit more difficult because we often travel to visit family. But maybe we have a celebration when we are home. This would align with the season of Christmastide, carrying the celebrations over 12 days rather than just one.
4. Be an advocate. Not on the internet, but with people you know. Challenge prejudices and offer different perspectives. Not out of a feeling of superiority, but from a desire to make a difference. Do this with kindness and know that you won't change peoples' minds without kindness and compassion.
What ways have you found to show compassion and grace to people. How can we approach this with intention over the next year? I do not excel in this area, but I want to be better.
A Pregnant Pause
I didn't have a "normal" pregnancy experience, if that's even a thing. I had a Pandemic Pregnancy. While my experience wasn't what I expected, it was what I needed. It was the calmest and most peaceful period I'd had in years. Yet as I was waiting, I was also preparing: picking out clothes, looking at all the baby gadgets and paraphernalia (there's so much!), figuring out what would increase my anxiety and what would help keep it manageable.
I also chose not to find out the gender of my baby ahead of time. This created a rather unique situation as my husband accidentally looked at the ultrasound monitor while they were noting the gender. So for 17 long weeks, he had to keep a secret that he really wanted to tell. In the end, unsurprisingly, things did not go at all like we expected or imagined.
Things rarely turn out like we expect them. When Jesus was born, His coming was nothing like what people expected. They expected a triumphant King, but received a lowly baby in a manger. They expected an avenger for Israel who would bring physical liberation from the Romans, yet received a Savior more concerned about spiritual liberation and freedom. They expected someone to reinforce religious norms and applaud their adherence to those norms. Yet they received someone who looked on the heart and challenged everyone on their need for salvation. Quite often, Jesus saved His harshest assessments and lessons for those very religious elite. They were so busy looking for who they expected, a warrior, that they missed who they needed, a Savior.
“O Come, O Come Immanuel and ransom captive Israel”
While we hope for a better year next year, and expect changes to take place, good and bad, let's remember that things rarely go like we expect. The good changes may not turn out exactly like we expected, leading to disappointment. But on the flip side, the bad things may not turn out to be as bad as we expected, leading to relief. Let’s not miss out on what we need because it is different from what we expect. Instead of rushing toward the next thing, let’s slow down and take time to be in the moment. Relish the feeling of hope and expectation while also leaning into the reality that it just might not be what we expect.
Take time this Advent season to evaluate your expectations and hopes. Are they built on a firm foundation, or are they built on circumstances that can shift and change at a moments' notice.
Expectation and Hope
As I was planning out what I wanted to accomplish this year, the one thing at the top of the list was a series of posts for advent. While this is not strictly a religious blog, the season of advent has become an important season for me and my family. This will be my fourth year celebrating advent in some form as an adult. And while I don't want our Advent celebration to be more elaborate, I do want it to be more intentional. That starts with asking these questions: What is Advent? Why is it important to me?
The advent that many are familiar with is the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas. These are commemorated by special services where candles are lit, one for each week of Advent. Each week a specific theme is introduced in preparation for Christmastide. In some Christian homes, Advent is a daily celebration. Each day people gather and light one candle for each week. How each person or family celebrates in a way that works for them. However, in each case it is a time of preparation and anticipation before the excitement of gifts and food, or the service of giving and volunteering.
“Advent has grown in my life from a meaningless holiday word to my favorite liturgical season of the year.”
As I began to delve into Advent and the traditional church calendar, it was fascinating to discover that for the church, Advent is the beginning of the year. This time of year is viewed as a time of preparation for Christ's coming. Originally, it was intended to look toward Christ's second coming. Throughout history it has been celebrated in different forms. it was viewed as a time of fasting and penitence similar to Lent for centuries. However, it slowly changed to a celebration of hope, and become more connected with the birth of Christ. In her Advent devotion "Shadow and Light", Tsh Oxenreider expresses the Advent season in terms of the shadows of brokenness being overcome by the light of Christ.
Advent is an opportunity for transformation. Instead of stressing about all the tasks and obligations, the worry about losing 10 pounds to be Christmas-ready, let's begin a transformation on the inside. Internal transformation has a tendency to put the rest into perspective, clarifying what is truly important.
I will be using Tsh Oxenreider's "Shadow and Light" as a starting point for inspiration for this Advent series. In this devotional, Week 1 is devoted to the themes of expectation and hope. Today, reflect on the type of transformation you hope to make over the coming weeks and months. What actions can you take to prepare yourself for a season of transformation.
Tradition, Tradition!
Tradition, Tradition! This refrain echoes through Fiddler on the Roof. We each have our own response to the concept of tradition. Growing up in a Pentecostal denomination, there wasn't much emphasis on the traditions and rhythms central to many Christian denominations and other world religions. In fact, in some Pentecostal and Protestant circles there is a certain pride that we do not celebrate "The Traditions of Men".
And yet, I find myself struggling with a lack of tradition. And I wonder if there is something that we miss by not having a set of practices and rhythms that could be called traditions. Many religions and cultures around the world have well-established traditions and celebrations that support a sense of community and acknowledge their history. These traditions also bring a spiritual focus when practiced with intention.
In looking at where Christianity was incubated - Judaism - we see a strong sense of tradition and a clearly established cycle of celebrations going back to the time of Moses. The 4th Commandment is about a weekly cycle of rest that is rooted in the Creation story when God rested on the 7th day. This was to be a weekly day of rest from labor and focus on spiritual pursuits. This was only one of many cycles and celebrations that have been central to Judaism since the time of Moses. Repeatedly in the Bible, we see that when the Israelites abandoned these cycles and celebrations, they abandoned their faith. Traditions, celebrations, and cycles - the rhythms of our daily lives - serve as a point of connection. They connect us with our community. They connect us with our past and history. And they connect us with the spiritual.
Growing up, my family did have traditions around the Christmas season. My mom made my brother and I beautiful cross-stitched advent calendars, as well as equally stunning stockings for the family. One of my favorite advents was the year she put together a series of treats, small gifts, and crafting activities for us to do throughout December. I would look forward each morning to seeing what the day’s symbol was on the Advent calendar and then picking from whatever category was on that day’s paper.
We would go to my paternal grandparents for Christmas Eve and attend Christmas Eve service with my grandma, often getting to sit in the choir loft while she played the organ for the service. We would light candles while singing Silent Night at the end of service, and face the annual anxiety of keeping the candle wax from dripping past the little paper drip catcher on the candles. As my brother and I got older, we would spend Christmas morning at our house and then travel to my maternal grandparents for Christmas afternoon. My grandfather would read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and the family would sing Silent Night. Gifts weren't extravagant, but they were meaningful and heartfelt.
This early experience with tradition gave me a positive experience with the concept. I find value in rhythms and traditions. Over the past couple years, I have been researching ways to bring more rhythm into my life and encountered the liturgical calendar. The season of Advent, which is a season of preparation, begins the Liturgical calendar. So this year I am beginning my year, not January 1, but with Advent. A time of anticipation and preparation.
Join me over the next 24 days as I begin my year with a period of preparation. We will take time daily to explore the season of Advent and how the intentions and focuses of this season can apply to all our lives regardless of our religious beliefs.