It's been a while, but I'm glad to be back to the blogging world for this upcoming Advent season. Perhaps one of my favorite seasons for writing.
Before we find ourselves in the middle of Christmas, asking where the season went, I wanted to provide a Pre-Advent writing. A simple chance to anticipate things to come... before anxiety and rush settles in among us like snow that freezes after having fallen.
It's been quite a year for me...a big move. Starting school again. Adjusting to culture shock. I find myself asking lots of questions as the holidays approach.
And for you? What has your year been like?
Was it as you expected? Where were there surprises? Disappointments? Are there things you are still expecting? Where do you find yourself in the midst of the upcoming Advent season?
Consider where the Hebrews found themselves. Are they keeping their ears opened and eyes peeled for a promise made some 500 years ago? Do they still tell the old stories to their families around late night fires despite an intense day of work (do they laugh or do they cry or both)? How hard is their oppression? Does it come from all sides: government, locally, community leaders, religious leaders, family (nagging parents or children)? Where is their solace coming from? Their emperor? The army? Their local leader? Their relationships? Their faith? Their God who has yet to come through on his so called promise? And where is their rest?
And for us? I imagine it's easy to find a sense of oppression, suppression, or repression in our lives. But... peace...Where is our peace? Probably not our government post campaign season. Is there any solace in our lives? Where do we find promises lacking fulfillment? And where is our rest?
Perhaps most importantly, what stories do our lives tell? What stories are we telling?
With our words....
With our lives....
"Find me here,
And speak to me.
I want to feel you,
I need to hear you.
You are the light,
That's leading me,
To the place,
Where I find peace again..."
Lifehouse "Everything"
