Reflections on Hope

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent, the beginning of the churches New Year, and a the beginning of a season of preparation to welcome once again the baby Jesus into our midst. I think it is very fitting that the first candle we light on the Advent wreath is the candle of hope. The dictionary definition of hope that I think best fits Advent is "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best." When we hope for something we want it to turn out for the best. The catch is that what we think is "best" may not be what God knows is best for us or for a situation. A prime example is Jesus' death. His followers hoped he would not be crucified and would not die. Yet, God knew that what was best for them, for humanity, was for Jesus to die and rise again.

We all need hope. We all need to know that things will turn out for the best. What does hope look like? For some it may be that glimmer of light at the end of a very dark and scary tunnel that reminds them that this darkness will not overcome us, will not last forever, and things will get better. For some it might be a hug or a smile from a friend or even a stranger that reminds them that they are loved. For others it might be the courage to step out in faith on a new adventure reassured that God will walk with them every step of the way. Hope can take many forms. 

There is a Young Living essential oil called "Hope". In the description of this oil it says that "Hope™ helps you reconnect with feelings of strength and grounding, restoring hope for tomorrow. " This idea of hope really resonates with me. When we have hope, if even for a moment, we have reconnected with our own strength and we become more grounded. We might only feel this strength for a moment if life is really difficult yet each time we feel it, it becomes more familiar. It is kind of like muscle memory. The more we use a muscle in a certain way the easier it become to move in a certain way. It becomes second nature. I think the more we embrace our strength and courage the more grounded we become. The more grounded we become the more we "open" we are to the "joys that lie ahead."

During this season of Advent, may you embrace hope and rediscover the joy that lies ahead embodied in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Advent Day 21-Prophet

"Prophet"

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

-Isaiah 9:6

Luke 1:26-38

Advent Day 20-Good News

"Good News"

I feel like Christmas came in July this year…

This was REALLY good news!

Advent Day 19-Patience

"Patience"

You have to have patience to live through upper midwest winters!

Advent Day 16-Strong

"Strong"

=

My niece had a rough start to life but she is a fighter…

&

I am so much stronger than I was even a year ago…

Photo taken by Susan Gilchrist

(my sister-in-law's mother)

Advent Day 15-Rejoice

"Rejoice"

Children are so good at rejoicing with music…we can learn from them…

Advent Day 14-Gather

"Gather"

This is how I imagine God gathering me into his/her arms when I'm suffering or in pain.

Advent Day 10-Holy

"Holy"

Some days this is the only way I can become aware of The Holy.

Advent Day 8-Wisdom

"Wisdom"…

awareness of Emanuel-God within us!

Advent Day 7-Ready

"Ready"…

for the day, for the season of Advent, for Christmas...

Advent Day 6-Awake

"Awake"

Advent Day 4-Time

Time

Advent Day 3 - "Peace"

"Shalom"

(The Hebrew word for "peace" that says so much to me)

Advent Day 2-Bound

"Bound"

Advent Day 1-Go (Advent "Photo a Day")

In Lent 2013 I began a discipline inspired by Rethink Church a website of the United Methodist Church. While I didn't make it through Lent I really enjoyed the challenge. Rethink Church has brought back the Photo-A-Day challenge. So once again I am inspired to take on the Advent Photo-A-Day (click the link to learn more about it) challenge.

Today's Word is "Go"...

Emmanuel-God Within Me

The beginning of Advent is just over a week away and I have been thinking about waiting and preparing. The purpose of Advent is to prepare for Emmanuel or God with us. I feel like I have just come out of a long period of Advent in my faith journey. Since I left my previous position in Hudson, WI over two years ago I had been preparing and waiting for my next call. My experience in Hudson proved to be a turning point in my faith journey. 

The experience propelled me to do some serious "soul work".  I yearned to feel God's presence and I yearned to feel worthy. It turns our what I really needed was to recover Emmanuel within myself. I embarked on a journey of peeling away the layers of shame and fear that hid my true soul, my authentic self-that hid Emmanuel. In the beginning I believed this uncovering would be easy-just learning skills to make the shame and fear go away. It turns out it was a painful process because healing means wading through the messiness of shame and fear and coming out on the other side. It meant learning what triggers my feelings of shame and fear, it meant lots of crying, and it meant lots of hard work.

What I discovered was that under all the shame and fear God was  present within me. God was working in me. God's healing love was transforming the dark wounds of shame and fear into light. The light revealed gifts of worthiness, leadership, compassion, confidence, hope, and joy. I also discovered that God was preparing me for a new adventure-an adventure that has taken me away from my family, my friends, my support system. Two years ago I was not ready for this adventure-I had to wait. God was preparing my heart and soul to minister with the congregation of Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Right now seems to be a Christmas season in my faith journey. I am able to more fully embrace Emmanuel or God within me. I am grateful for the Advent Season in my life but even more grateful for this new season of joy and light!

Emmanuel!