He Walked Among Us

Celebrating Advent

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent—a season that celebrates the arrival of Jesus Christ. It’s a time to pause, wrestle with the brokenness we experience, long for peace, and find hope in the God who came to save us. (This post was originally a letter from my Substack account.)

This is my first year choosing to intentionally celebrate Advent as an adult and I’m loving it. The last Sunday of November I cut branches from various evergreens in my yard, fashioned a rough wreath shape, bought candles, and lit the first candle, the Candle of Hope, with my family. It doesn’t have to be fancy.

Feeling the Brokenness

The Christmas season tells us that it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s filled with lights, parties, presents, movies, treats, and more. We make a valiant attempt at magic. But if you are like me, while we create beauty and wonder, we also sense the discord around us a little deeper than normal. Instead of hope, peace, and joy, we too often feel stress, chaos, loneliness, and disappointment. Something just isn’t right.

A few years ago I was sitting by my Christmas tree in the early morning with a cup of coffee. The brokenness of the world weighed heavy on my heart. “When are you going to fix this?” I asked. Unexpectedly, I heard a familiar voice whisper in my heart.

“Two thousand years ago.”

Two thousand years ago something quiet yet astonishing happened. God entered our world as a human baby.

He Lived with Us

In the beginning of Scripture, people live with God in the garden of Eden. And in the end, people live with God in the New Heavens and Earth. But in between Jesus came to live with us.

Thirty years, give or take. About three decades. For close to three hundred sixty months, ten thousand, nine hundred fifty days, God quietly lived among us growing from baby, to toddler, to boy, to teenager, to man. In a small country, in an even smaller town, Jesus lived, worked, and served. He didn’t try to get recognized, or look for fame and fortune, or demand anything from anyone. The God who created the world, humbly interacted with family, neighbors, and friends. He dwelt in obscurity for most of his life. He wasn’t anything special even though he was the most amazing Being in the Universe.

Why would God do that?

Why would he choose to dwell with us for thirty years in such a quiet way? What made him want to live as a dependent baby and toddler? Fully human with all that entails and yet without sin.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been temped as we are yet without sin. Let us then have confidence to draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16

I don’t know. But I do know that everything Jesus did was for us.

So that we could know who God really is because we mess it up all the time. “He is the image of the invisible God…” Colossians 1:5.

So that we would know how much we are loved and wanted. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

So that our relationship with our Creator God could be restored. “Therefore since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

And more. There is much to ponder about the birth, life, and death of Jesus. So much more!

Rethinking Christmas

These last few paragraphs are for those of you who are unsure how to celebrate this year because you are over the American evangelical experience. Maybe you aren’t in church right now. Maybe you aren’t sure how to build new traditions.

We can wonder and think with the ancient church fathers and mothers. We can connect with the generations of believers who came before us. Even if we are feeling lost and frustrated with the modern Christianity around us. There is a rich history of belief across denominational lines for us to hold onto as we rethink our faith and church experiences. Advent is a beautiful time for this.

The main article I am using for my Advent celebration this year is from the Catholic church. I’m okay with that. I like it. I’m pulling Advent prayers from the Anglican Book of Common of Prayer. They are beautiful.

There is space for you to connect with God and celebrate Advent/Christmas apart from evangelical expression. Maybe like me, they told you that they are the only ones who are right. Well, they are wrong! God is bigger than one denomination and He wants to find you where you are at. Don’t give up.

An Advent Prayer

Let’s close with an Advent prayer from Henry Nouwen—writer, thinker, and priest.

“Lord Jesus, Master of both light and darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparation for Christmas.

We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day.

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of Your Kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your Presence.

We are Your people, walking in darkness yet seeking the light. To You, we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Henry Nouwen