Advent

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. The first candle to be lit represents hope. The entire series of circumstances surrounding this event were pregnant with hope; and then on that holy night hope finally gave birth to the messiah in the form of a helpless and vulnerable and dependent baby.

• The hope so long ago that a Messiah was coming.
• The hope the Wise and studious men had in the alignment they saw happening in the sky.
• The hope that Mary must have found when she went to visit her Aunt Elizabeth to find out she believed her strange story about a God given baby growing inside her.
• The hope Joseph found AFTER his visit from the angel.
• Hope came in the form of a tiny baby, Word made flesh, in an empty animal stall. Jesus Christ. Mmm. The stench and the glory all at the same time. Think of it...

Each year at Christmas I choose to start out by thinking about what it would have been like to be Mary. I can't even begin to pretend I understand her situation, even when I have reason to believe I could. Would you have had the faith to believe the angel? Would you have had the courage to face your parents and community? Would you have had the faith to raise the son of God? God chose Mary to have His son. Not me, so I didn't need His grace to carry out that mission. She needed it and He gave it to her.

There are some things He has chosen me to do. He gives me the grace to do what He calls me to do. Am I acting on and aligning myself with the courage His calling requires? Do I believe what He has said or shown me in Scripture? Do I have the courage to stand up for truth to people in my family and community? Have I had the faith and obedience to raise children of God?

I really want to put all my hope in Him. ... for mothering, wife-ing, and home creating, and actually, in all things. Not in my Christmas decorating, entertaining, cooking, planning, but hope in the person of Christ during this season, and hopefully in the next. Hope is not pining away, but a discipline in my mind, will, and emotions. May it be so.

By the way, the candle of Hope is ...blue.

Next Sunday...Peace.