Advent - An Act of Rebellion

 

 

This week, I have watched a friend’s family enjoy a few days of memory-making without the one they most want to make memories with. This week, I ached as news reached me of a family in my home church who has suffered incomprehensible loss. And this week, I have spent the night on the bathroom floor, scoured the house, carried ginger ale and saltines up our stairs again and again. Tonight, this same night that I read the last hope-filled chapter of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to my little girls, tonight I read that Aleppo’s rebel neighborhoods have are falling, have fallen, that there are bodies of children in the street, that 75.000 people have fled the city in just a few days. And I want to cry out,” but this is Advent! This is the time of waiting and anticipating and hoping!”

How? How can I hope?

On Saturday, I dragged myself to the car, ginger ale in hand. I could not miss the living nativity we drive through each year. I steeled myself for the 45 minute drive, the waiting in the line of exhaust fumes, the kids crazy in the backseat trying to see out the coveted window with a view. And this year, like the past two years, the angels cried out, “We bring you tidings of great joy!”

Why? Why should I rejoice?

On Sunday, in defiance of the bathroom floor, I pulled out the Christmas lights. We hung them on the tree, on the house, on the mantle. We lit a fire in the fireplace. We lit the third candle in the middle of our table. Light. I craved light. Because, this is Advent! This is the time of waiting and hoping for the Light of the world!  

Where? Where is the light?

I am not sad. I am overcome. I am undone. I am at the end of my own hope which brings me to the One who is hope everlasting. I turn on the Christmas lights as I come downstairs each morning, light a fire in the fireplace in the quiet and the calm, light the candles each meal. An act of rebellion. An act of faith.

Advent light seems hard to see this year, but I find anew that despair strengthens hope, that sorrow deepens joy, that dark brightens light.

And with the fierceness of Gladys, I shout out, “Hey! Unto you a child is born!”

For surely, unto each of us a Child was born, and so there is hope, joy, light.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

My Step

I am pausing to experience the truth in the Biola Advent Project each day…soaking in the words of the Scripture and being challenged by the art and music and thoughts presented there. Here are one or two days that really resonated if you want to join me.

I am committing to pray for Aleppo and all those who find themselves in need of refuge for 5 minutes each morning at 5:00 AM. May God protect, bring peace, and shine His great Light in the midst of darkness.

And I am researching reputable organizations and choosing to do my one thing to help light a world that seems so dark right now. Here are a few I have found and vetted to my satisfaction…

Preemptive Love Coalition

World Relief

World Vision

Join me?