Advent Readings From Outside The Box: Part 2

December 8

Oddly enough, I did not choose this picture because it looks like the airborne little goat has aspirations to pull Santa’s sleigh.  That was an amusing after thought.  I chose this picture because lately I have diverged from my Christmas music a bit to indulge in the Glee version of “Defying Gravity.”  I love this song.  I really want to see the musical Wicked from whence this song came.  I digress.  In relation to Christmas, this song makes me think that in some sense the incarnation is about God “defying gravity” for our sakes.  Jesus is God made flesh.  In Jesus, God is doing a new thing outside the normal progression of nature.  Supernatural becomes natural.  God becomes human.  Not the way it usually works.  God “defying gravity” because God loves us that much.  How cool is that?!

December 9

Sticking with the “Defying Gravity” theme, then we have Mary’s song, Luke 1:46-55 , which calls attention to how God’s ways defy the gravity of the ways of the world.  God’s ways are about looking with favor on the lowly, scattering the proud, bringing down the powerful, lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry and sending away the rich.  The gravitational pull of this world is that the rich are powerful and the hungry get hungrier.  God turns the ways of this world upside down and claims the poor as blessed.  God enters the world as a child claiming weakness and service as the way God is loose in the world.  God defies gravity working to bring forth the Kingdom of God and calls us to do the same.  Sing it with me now, “It’s time to try defying gravity....”

December 10

The Kingdom of God began breaking into the world in a new way through that baby in a manger.  This is what is exciting and meaningful to me about Christmas.  There are other things that I enjoy for sure.  But underneath it all is this resounding beat.  As we embarked upon the Christmas season, I wrote a prayer in A Prayer for the Christmas Season about this deep meaning that moves me so and prayed for Christmas to linger.  I am trying to maintain the spirit of that prayer throughout the season.  Then clanging onto the scene comes commercials, and buying, and arguing over the words we use to celebrate the season, etc.  I know I should not let this distract me but it is like trying to listen to a favorite song while someone in the next room whistles the Smurfs theme.  Not that there is anything wrong with Smurfs.  I love the Smurfs.  It’s just so distracting.  But that resounding beat is still there.  Listen.  Can you hear it?

December 11

It may not technically be winter yet but it’s cold.  And it’s dark.  And did I mention it’s cold and there isn’t much sunlight?  Don’t give me any lip about having complained mere months ago about the heat.  Having experienced months of 100 plus degree weather does not make my skin any more impervious to cold!  The animals’ water still freezes.  The wind still blows.  Interpret that last as you will.  Anyway, the point is this time of the year a celebration is sooo welcome.  I don’t know how it is in warmer climates. If you live there write me and tell about it.  But around here it’s cold and the hours of daylight are short.  So, while we need to be mindful of things like materialism, let’s occasionally give in to the festivities a bit.  Celebrate life and light in the midst of the darkness as you spend time with loved ones.  Crank up that Christmas music, dance off some of those Christmas candy calories, and just enjoy yourself for a bit.

December 12

I have had a revelation that will come as no surprise to many of my family members:  I should lighten up.  Sometimes I become so focused on trying to live my life in the way I should that I drive myself and my loved ones a little nutty.  This realization came to me as I researched toy companies to see from whom I could ethically buy toys for my children.  The options are limited and companies are strong in one area while being weak in another.  I was driving myself nuts trying to figure this all out.  Stressed Out Mommy is not a good present to give my children for Christmas.  So, I did the best I could and let it go on the rest.  Cut yourself some slack this Christmas.  I know this sounds like something you have heard many times before. But, my point is we are not all Martha Stewarts in pursuit of some allusive perfect Christmas and ways to make the house oh so pretty. Sometimes our busyness comes from trying to do good things like attending all our childrens' activities, working for charity, visiting folks who could use a good friend. But we need to remember that even Jesus took time off to pray and just be. Cut yourself some slack this Christmas. It will be a great present for your loved ones.  

December 13

Last week I wrote about people who are experiencing grief this time of the year.  As I reflected further on this topic I realized something: most of us are in a sense experiencing grief this time of year. Some are certainly experiencing grief more acutely and we need to hold those people in our hearts and prayers.  But, anyone who has experienced loss knows that grief lasts more than a year.  While we do become accustomed to our grief and the sharpness of it lessens, when holidays come around, even years later, the memories and the feelings stir our hearts.  I doubt that there are many who reach adulthood without knowing something about this.  My heart aches for those who learn about grief as children.   It seems too great a burden for little ones to bear and yet many of them do.  Let us pray for these young ones and let us not be afraid to share memories together of all those whom we are missing this Christmas.

December 14

My daughter asked me to sing her a short song at bedtime the other night.  So, I sang the first verse of “Away in a Manger”.  Then she said, “Isn’t there more to it than that?”  So, I sang another verse, the one that ends “I love thee Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.”  These words reminded me that this little baby in a manger is the same one whom we ask to stay near us, to guide us, to be at work in us.  This is the same one who died for us, who stands in solidarity with us when we suffer, who saves us.  I remember when my eldest child was born looking at her and wondering at who this little child would be.  At Christmas we celebrate the Christ child knowing who he will be.  What a precious gift.

Advent Readings From Outside The Box

I thought it would be fun to put together an Advent Calendar of sorts with daily readings for the 25 days until Christmas. Most of the Advent Devotions I have read are all about avoiding the hustle and bustle of the holidays or focused on getting  in touch with the true meaning of Christmas.  Both of these are good ideas but certainly not new concepts.  I tend to get frustrated when I read devotions that are nothing new.  So, I thought I would try to write Advent readings that would encourage out of the box thinking and give us a new perspective on Christmas.  The inspiration for this was the article I reference in the reading for December 1st.  It enabled me to see the season through someone else’s eyes.  This is a heart opening blessing.  I hope these readings will open your heart to the blessings of Christmas and how you can be blessed to be a blessing amidst the wrapping paper and baked goods.  My intention is for you to read the reading of the day and then come back each day to read the next.  But if you are like me, I tend to be impatient and read the whole thing.  That is fine.  Just remember the readings are here to come back to on days when you need a fresh perspective on the holidays.  If you would like me to email you the devotions each day, let me know.  May we all have a blessed and meaningful Christmas season.   

December 1st  

I hope you will take time to follow this link http://www.textweek.com/advent_story.htm and read this article by Jenee Woodard.   For those stubborn few of you who won’t follow the link, I will do my best to summarize.  It is a story about a boy with autism.  This boy needed order in his life and the lights, decorations, festivities, and changes of the Christmas season were very upsetting to him.  The sight of a present being unwrapped brought him to tears and he left his own presents sitting untouched.  After years of the Christmas season being a time of stress and tears for this young boy, one year he asked for something for Christmas.  Something that seems so simple was a tremendous sign of growth and hope for this boy.   

In my house this time of year every toy commercial is followed by the inevitable cry, “I want that for Christmas!”  It can be disheartening to parents who are trying to raise children who resist the societal pull toward materialism.  Yet here is a situation where those words were music to a mother’s ears.  

This brought several thoughts to my mind.  What are the holidays like for those with mental, physical, or emotional challenges?  What a blessing to have children that don’t have to face those particular challenges.  And what a blessing it is, though it doesn’t always seem like a blessing, to have children who know what they want and can thoroughly enjoy receiving gifts.  As my children grow, their Christmas requests change and reveal something about who they are as unique individuals.  When my children were tiny, every opinion they developed was a fun new revelation and a sign of growth.  I am grateful to be reminded what a blessing this is.  

December 2nd 

A couple of years ago I read In Defense of Singing Christmas Carols During Advent! by David Lose.  For those of you who don’t know or have forgotten: on the church calendar the Sundays leading up to Christmas are Advent, the season of Christmas does not begin until Christmas Day.  Whether we should sing Christmas songs before the season of Christmas arrives is an old argument.  But, Professor Lose gave me new perspective.  He points out that there is such breadth and depth to the songs of the Christmas season that we can not possibly cover them all in the short season after Christmas.  Then he writes, “We cannot let the malls take over our heritage! If we're not teaching our children the carols, they'll learn them from the popular culture or not at all. In that case, you run the risk that they won't be able to distinguish between Irving Berlin's version of Christmas and the Bible's.”   I love Christmas music from hymnody to humor.  This gives me pause to think about some of the beautiful words of the hymns and to consider what songs I would most like my children to learn.  Pretty sure “Santa Baby” is not one of them.  Perhaps “O Come, O Come Immanuel”  or “Lo, How A Rose E’re Blooming”... the possibilities are breath taking.  Of course, I had to look up the words just now to refresh my memory.  So, maybe I should teach them to myself first! And yes I realize one of these is an Advent song.  Don’t get technical with me!

December 3rd 

Now let’s go from the deep to the shallow.  While I love the hymns mentioned above, I do also appreciate some of the many humorous songs of this season.  One of my favorites is “The Christmas Can Can” by Straight No Chaser.  Is it irreverent or blasphemous to be amused by such things in this holy season?  Rather I think it is an exercise in something very healthy: laughing at ourselves.  Sometimes we take lives and our selves entirely too seriously.  We are human.  We will make mistakes.  We do ridiculous and even hypocritical things.  Surely we must try to do better but what better way to call our own attention to our own flaws then through humor?  There is a long tradition that supports the efficacy of humor.  Jesters were employed in part to criticize the king through jokes and jests.  Perhaps we will be more likely to change our behavior when we are laughing at ourselves than when we are being beaten over the head with guilt.  So, laugh away.  Enjoy the funny songs.  Release some stress through laughter.  Learn to laugh at yourself.  It is good for the soul.  If you would like a little extra sarcasm in your day, enjoy this article by Ed Spivy, Jr.,  Nine Tips to Help You Survive Advent

December 4th  

This blog post http://blog.pigtailpals.com/2011/11/join-me-katie-on-dec-16-for-wear-star-wars-share-star-wars/ tells about a little girl who was bullied because she had a Star Wars water bottle.  She was told girls couldn’t like Star Wars.  I am a girl.  I love Star Wars.  So, naturally I am in her corner.  What this made me think about, though, was how Christmas is a great opportunity to encourage people to step out of the stereotypes, to stretch their comfort zones, and to try something new.  If a girl asks for a truck, I hope we don’t try to talk her out of it or ask her for an explanation anymore than we would if she were a boy.  But even further, let’s take an opportunity to encourage someone to try a new hobby or new book genre or the like.  This does NOT mean getting people a bunch of stuff they have no interest in.  But if someone has said, maybe sheepishly, “You know, I would love to learn how to crochet,” or “I’ve always wanted to learn to play guitar,” now is a great time to get them a crocheting needle and some yarn or a guitar and a how to DVD.  ESPECIALLY if this person is, say, a man more often inclined toward sports and splitting wood than handcrafts and music.  This Advent blog has been all about opening our hearts and minds.  How great would it be if we could help others do this too?!

December 5th 

All right.  I tried to resist but now I have to speak to something that is not a new perspective.  It is sadly an old, old, old perspective.  Sometimes Christmas is seen through the blur of tears.  Sometimes the joyful carols are so discordant with the sorrow in our life, it is painfully jarring.  Christmas makes loss more poignant.  Reminders are everywhere.  There is just a smidge of “not all bad” hidden amongst the desire to smash evergreen trees.  Sometimes poignancy brings tears and sometimes we need to sit and just let them roll down.  Those of my friends and neighbors who need to do this, if you need someone to sit with you give me a call.    

December 6th 

Lately I have been writing a lot about social justice.  It is a topic dear to my heart and one that I have new energy for as I have come to believe that the Kingdom of God amongst us means we are not powerless to change the injustices that surround us.  However, it is time for me to eat some humble pie (not sure I have room with all the holiday baking but I will try).  I have been known to complain about the tirades of vegetarians and environmentalists who like to pick on ranchers.  It is easy to criticize from a safe distance while (literally) keeping your hands clean.  Yet I believe I have been doing a bit of the same.  Recently I have had conversations with folks who are facing some of the justice issues I have been talking and thinking about.  But they are facing them in a much more intimate way than I, fighting these things within their jobs, with little control over the outcome, and with real day to day frustration.  In my defense, if we all were to stand up against social injustice, it would be of benefit to these folks as well.  However, it occurs to me that they may not want to hear someone ranting and raving about it from the outside all the time.  So, I thank these folks for the new perspective they have given me and I will try to keep them in mind in my future rants.  Possibly even in my raves too.

December 7th  

Speaking of pie...Some time ago when I was baking a pie I realized that pie is a great symbol for Advent.  An unbaked pie waiting to go in the oven fills me with anticipation.  I can smell it before it even begins to cook.  I can imagine what it will taste like.  The waiting seems so long.  Advent is all about anticipation: anticipating the celebration of the Christ child and anticipating the time when Christ will come again.  Yet most often the Christ child seems long ago and Christ coming again seems an incomprehensible dream.  However, there are moments in life, flashes of insight, when it all seems so clear and so hopeful.  May you have moments this Advent when the coming of Christ seems as real and near to you as a pie baking in the oven.  

Sorry if I made anyone hungry.  Stay tuned for next weeks Advent Readings From Outside The Box.

Grief and Hope: Working for a Better World

by Sheri


It has been nearly 13 years since my first husband died.  I was all set to share with you a letter I wrote to him the other day.  I am totally chickening out.  It was just too personal.  
Yet I still want to share some of the thoughts because I think there is a message there that is important, maybe even crucial to our world.  


When Matt died my grief was full of longing for all the wonderful things he could have done in this world.  He was full of passion and a sense of duty and would have done a lot of good.  Part of my focus then was trying to make some of that good happen even without him.  Recently I have realized I need to change that focus.


Matt died from an accident at work.  The story is complicated and personal.  But there were things that could have been done differently and perhaps changed the outcome.  So, to  me part of what took Matt's life was just the way the world works.  Business is business and sometimes the consequences are high.


So, now I want to focus on changing the way the world works. I want to work to make the world a place that is not ruled by "business is business",  self-interest, and self-protection. 


Really the results are not much different.  Some of the good Matt would have done accomplishes the same thing.    But the difference to me is huge.  It is the difference between clinging to a future which can never be and stretching for a future that is a sure and certain hope.  


Many die from the "the way the world works".  Some die from hunger and poverty, as those who have much take even more until there is not enough to go around.  Some die from disease caused by pollutants that we put into our environment in our search for ever more stuff.  Some die from wars and violence, as those who have much fearfully protect it and those who do not lash out in anger.  Recently I have come to realize that many die from diseases, accidents, and even natural disasters that could possibly have been prevented or cured or protected against if so many resources and brilliant minds were not being directed towards war machines and the selling of more stuff.


Grief is such a helpless feeling.  There is nothing to do to bring a loved one back.  Matt is gone.  No cliche will change that.  But those of us burdened with grief, (and, Lord, we are many), do not have to be burdened also with helplessness.  We can rise up and change the world.  We can live our lives working for change, moving toward a day when the only grief that is prevalent in this world will be saying goodbye to one who has lived a long and fruitful life.  I can just hear you all saying, "Like that could ever happen."  It is funny to be writing this in connection with Matt.  He would have probably said that too.  


But, it is imperative that we are hopeful.  If we give in to despair we look at the world and say, "Forget it, this is as good as it gets."  I will not accept that.  We can do better.  I will hope.  As hard as I grieved for Matt, I will hope that much harder.  With hope, change will happen.


I know I cannot single handedly change the world.  I am not planning some huge self-sacrificing gesture in that interest.  But, when I make decisions in my life I will try to choose what changes the focus away from "business is business".  The wonderful thing is, in honoring Matt in this way I also make a better, safer future for the family I have now.  And I have a great help mate in doing that with a husband who is committed to teaching young people.  


Clearly I will need help beyond my wonderful husband.  Human beings cannot change the world on their own.  But, I will let that "sure and certain hope" work on you as is appropriate for your life.  Matt had a faith that tended toward irreverence and skepticism, especially regarding the institutional church.  He knew that saying "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus" didn't necessarily mean you were talking about Jesus at all.  So, it seems appropriate that I leave it at that.