“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2: 6- 7
On this third week in Advent we light the pink candle that represents Joy. Joy that we tend to define as moments when we are happy. But joy means so much more. It is a choice, a commitment we are making to live our lives in a way that reflects the love of God that lives in us. It is being content even when life has gone sideways, or we have had the rug pulled out from under our feet and fallen flat on our faces. It is being grateful in moments of despair. It is knowing that God is there, on the floor with us letting us know that God loves us right where we are in all our broken messiness. God loves us for who we are and not for what we have done. God loves us and delights in us just as we are. In that knowledge we can be filled with joy.
Joy is not rooted in any external event. Joy is rooted in who God is and knowing that God is fair, loving, and just. We remember that God’s ways are not our ways and so we live out our life in a way that aligns with God’s will. Which means we need to discern what that means for each one of us as God’s will is different for each one of us because we are all different.
The issue comes when we think WE know better about what we should do and how we should live. Instead of living in peace with the people and world around us, we invite drama and strife into our lives on a regular basis because WE think we know best. We think we need to have everything we see in our world today. We think…and that is part of the problem. We think we know better than God who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
I am not saying we should not use the intellect God gave us. I am saying we need to use our intelligence in a way that honors God and all that God has given us. For example, instead of pillaging the world for all its resources, we need to find ways to live in harmony with the world and replenish what we take from it. If we cut down a tree, we replant two of the same species. If we mine land for minerals, we should never do it in a way that poisons the land. We are not the only ones who use it. Everyone deserves to live on unpolluted land and breathe unpolluted air. When we say things that hurt another, we need to be humble enough to go and apologize for the angry words or actions we inflicted on another person. And I pray that you do have the opportunity to make amends. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we are left with the knowledge that we have said or done something that we should never have said or done.
The even harder part is when our words and actions are the result of being triggered by something that happened to us. Something in our present brought back our past in a vivid and unhealthy way as we inflicted harm on another person. And when the dust settles, we struggle to find joy. I mean, honestly, where is joy in knowing we have hurt another? There isn’t. However, there is joy in knowing that God still loves you and will sit on the floor with you as you grieve your words and actions. God will be there with you letting you know that you are loved just as you are, and God will be there with you as you strive to be better…next time.
And so, for all of us today, during this week of Advent that we celebrate the Joy of waiting for Jesus, I pray you truly find joy. The Joy of anticipating the coming Messiah, the anointed one of God into this world. The joy of being alive. The joy of being with family and friends during the holiday.
It is important for us to remember, that while this week we light the pink candle of Joy, this candle is also surrounded by purple candles…and purple reminds us that there is a cross to bear. Advent is linked forever to Lent. Just as Jesus’ birth is linked to his death on the cross. There is no way to have one without the other. But then, that too, is a source of great Joy for all people.
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 