Hope. With running shoes.


It’s not too late to change direction if you’re not at peace with the life you have now. Don’t put a deadline on your happiness.
--Anonymous


Happy New Year!

On the liturgical church calendar, this coming Sunday marks the start of Advent. The word Advent means coming, or arrival. As Christians, we take this to mean the arrival of the Christ Child, the one of whom the prophets spoke, born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. The next four weeks, our hearts are filled with anticipation, joy and hope.

It’s somehow fitting, as we in the States have just celebrated Thanksgiving, our day officially set aside to recognize just how blessed we are (whether we use that language or not), and to remember that not everyone has it so good.

Rev. William Barber talks about his grandmama, a tremendous cook, who would spend an afternoon over the stove, feed her family—and then head out to visit those who had less, taking delicious, hot meals with her. She called it going out to hope somebody.

For Grandmama, hope was a serious verb. It was something she actively undertook. And it is something we definitely need to continue. We can hope somebody with a sandwich or cup of coffee (or both). Maybe you can hope somebody with a ride to the grocery store. Or hope somebody with a phone call or love note. The possibilities are endless. Lead with your heart. Listen for the whisper of the Christ Child.

How will you hope someone this week (and the next . . . and the next)?

Monday As we approach the first week of Advent, think back. How can this year be different from the last? Spend time remembering. Jeremiah 23:5-6

Tuesday Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, today is “Giving Tuesday.” How will you give of yourself (or your stuff) during this Advent season? “Give” thanks to the Giver. Isaiah 9:2-7

Wednesday Think about holiday traditions in your family or household. Reflect on how they originated and why they endure. Consider journaling. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Thursday Ponder the new traditions we are creating together, here, at Strongsville UCC. Give thanks for this wonderful family, and ask God to guide your involvement in a new way. Ezekiel 36:24-27

Friday Have you stopped to reflect on the Church’s “way” of moving through Advent? What appeals to your soul? How can you bring these traditions into your daily way of living? 
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Saturday Today as you pray for yourself, reflect on a place of poverty in your life, a place where you desire “more.” Look for the Lord in that place, and give thanks. Proverbs 30:7-9

Sunday During Advent, consider taking a sabbath on the Sabbath. Spend time in quiet; make a fast from food or football or electronics. Make room in your “inn.” Psalm 121

I am definitely not the same person I was
when this year started. –Scottie Wayes


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual dehydration

  Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up. –Pearl S. Buck   The past two years (at least) have been exhausting, haven’t they? We had a pandemic that physically left us anxious and afraid. Our churches, where we go for nourishment, were closed or online longer than we wanted—and even now, we are careful. Politically, we have been divided against one another, and those wounds are still bleeding in many cases. We need to take care of ourselves. And it’s never been more difficult. What to do? How do I make time in our busy schedules—for me ? The simple answer: Whatever it takes. Remember when we would fly to a vacation destination? How the flight attendant would remind us that if the cabin loses pressure, the oxygen masks would drop down out of the ceiling? And that before we offer to help anyone else, we need to have our own masks in place ? Good advice for life in general. Today: Pause. Take inventory ...
Read more

What are you waiting for?

  The waiting is the hardest part. –Tom Petty   We spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for the coffee to finish dripping. Waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting for the next available agent. It’s inevitable, really. We cannot always be first, and if we aren’t first, we’ll have to wait. But I think the more important thing is to ask yourself: How am I at waiting? Do I find myself getting anxious and fidgety? Am I worrying about things not going the way I really need them to go? Is my attitude rubbing off on people around me? The best way to wait is not to worry where we are in line, or gripe about wasted time. The best way to wait—is to be right there , in the moment of waiting. The disciples waited in fear; we wait in hope. Why not use this waiting time to pray? Welcome God’s presence into your heart. Ask God to bring you into the moment. Inquire what God would ask of you in this moment . Thank God for wisdom, patience, humor. . . . Take a d-e...
Read more

Don't be afraid.

Living is a great deal more than simply not dying. It is carrying out a mission, committing oneself to fashion some meaning that will attain eternity. –Leonardo Boff When asked, “What are you afraid of?” we offer a myriad of answers: snakes, spiders, flying in an airplane. But when pressed, many people, believers and non-believers alike, will admit that the one thing they fear most, at the core of their being, is death. Most of us enjoy having control over our lives, and frankly, we have very little control over, or way of knowing, how or when our earthly journey will end. And we have even fewer concrete answers about what will happen next. We have the profession of our faith and the occasional “crossing-over” story—but. No wonder death is near the top of that list. But sometimes, as I look around, it seems like people are less fearful about dying—and more afraid of living. Really cutting loose and enjoying our time together as human beings privileged to live in God’s am...
Read more