i love advent, the season of waiting & expectation leading up to Christ’s birth. despite my doubts and the major shifts i have had in my faith, i still believe deeply in the power of the gospel. Jesus’ coming as a tiny fragile baby in a stinky messy stall is one of my favorite parts of the story. the people were expecting a totally different kind of messiah–someone strong and powerful who would kick tail and take names. instead they got a carpenter’s son who preached a message of peacemaking, humility, sacrifice, love, and grace.
communitas collective is a place where doubters, wanderers, seekers-of-something-more-than-just-words gather. so many that read might not have a “place” to celebrate advent this year. no church home. none of the confines of safety. you’re out there in the wild, in all kinds of different circumstances, but it doesn’t change your desire (and maybe even deepens it) to experience, taste, touch, see Jesus this season.
i know that’s where i’m at. i do have a lovely faith community to share advent with in our wacky and beautiful refuge way. but apart from what we are doing collectively, i have noticed a stirring in my heart this year about the season. some weird flickering flame inside of me reminding me of the power of the Good News. that Jesus is alive and well, and all of my doubts & disappointments about “the system” can’t diminish that. Love keeps being born despite us.
i love all of cheryl lawrie’s stuff. she works in the prisons in australia and respects and honors the view from the margins in a very powerful way. this prayer called “christmas spirit” is my meditation this advent season. i shared it this past saturday at the refuge gathering, and i thought i’d share it here, too.
You do not need to feel joy
or be happy
to have the Christmas spirit.The Christmas spirit
is simply having faith
that the story may be made real again:That love will be born,
even here.If you can, this Christmas
leave space for the miracle:
Let there be hope.
Let peace be real.
Let love be born in this place again.- cheryl lawrie
for all the doubters, dreamers, seekers of hope, may you somehow, some way feel love born yet again this advent.
with hope, kathy
