This Advent

I was enjoying some time in the kitchen last night, cooking dinner.  Christmas hymns were playing in the background. I was just savoring the moment - hands kneading dough, shoulders relaxing, humming along to the carols. One of those moments only to be described as peaceful, contented, thankful. Then in the background I start to hear sounds of gunfire, sirens, people screaming. I realized that in the next room Kip was catching up on some news on his computer. I didn't ask him to turn it down. I listened to both simultaneously for awhile, pondering what was intriguing me about the moment. It slowly dawned on me clearly. In our world we see it, simultaneously. We feel it.
Peace and Violence, Beauty and Ugly evil, Contentment and Longing, Righteousness and Injustice ...

This is the tension of advent. 

Advent is a time of expectant waiting. We celebrate the coming of the promised Messiah and remember the many years His people waited for His birth. We remember that He is coming again, a second time, and we wait and long for that day when all is made right.

The things in the news recently have grieved me deeply. The suffering that I see daily in my work has pierced my heart anew. The losses and longing that we all experience and see others carrying are real and difficult. I feel the tension this season: Jesus is here and His kingdom and light are advancing. But there is also so much pain and loss and struggle and sin that remain in our world.

The beautiful news is that Jesus meets us in this tension. He fills these gaps with His very self. He came that our losses and longings would be transformed by the fullness of God with us - Emmanuel.

And He is coming again to complete His transforming work on this world! Whatever heartache we carry this season, may we remember the power of Christ. We pray for His return. We long for His coming. We ask for eyes that would keep turning to Him. We praise Him that there is so much more than this present day, that what we currently see is but a dim reflection of what will be.

In our waiting and longing, may we embrace Jesus, the Hope of the world and our fullness of joy in every season.

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, 

And cheer us by your drawing nigh, 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death's dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind 

In one the hearts of all mankind; 

Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, 

And be yourself our King of Peace. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!