Men from a far away land in the East. Men who had been hoping all their lives. Men who had not given up searching, and had become old in the process. Wise men.
These wise men understood the patterns of the stars and they knew the prophecies of old – strong words foretelling the birth of a Saviour, spoken hundreds of years before. The passing of time had not weakened their search, disappointment had not diminished their conviction, age had not extinguished the flames of faith.
The cry from the heart of God, echoes across time, and down the years, a call and an invitation to all mankind, ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’. (Jer 29:19)
These wise men were expecting the Messiah – they probably did not know when or how or where, but they knew that one day, He would come. That night they saw an unusual light in the sky. That was all they needed – like a nudge, a wink, a finger beckoning. I marvel at their response, at the desire burning within them to encounter the coming King, at their leaning in towards the greater light that had come into the world.
Will we seek to meet God today in the humdrum of our lives? Will we seek Him because we are expectantly waiting for Him – are we ready for Him to show us something of Himself at any time, at any moment, in any way?
In choosing to believe in something bigger and greater and more glorious that anything they had yet experienced, the Magi had positioned themselves for an encounter with the King of Kings. In faith, they had watched as the star rose high in the sky, in faith they had chosen gifts, in faith they had travelled over 1000 miles, in faith they knelt and worshipped a baby boy.
We have already met Jesus and yet, in hoping for prayer to be answered, in the longing for situations to change, desperate for breakthrough, for many of us the waiting has dulled and wearied and blurred our faith – for some, the intentional searching ceased a long time ago, and we consider now, perhaps, that there is no hope, or is there?
The light that hung in that dark sky 2000 years ago still invites us to lean in towards Christ, in faith – a sign still, for those who have eyes to see, and ears to hear the small sweet whisper, ‘nothing is impossible for him who believes’. Mark 11:23
Thanks to Lucas Santos @_staticvoid for making this photo available freely on Unsplash.
Next week we celebrate Epiphany and the visit of the Wisemen, the Magi, to toddler Jesus. They brought Jesus gifts to honor the King. I’ve always thought that these gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, while symbolic, also probably helped his parents survive. These Gifts gave them resources they could sell, as they started a new life in Egypt as refugees.
As we begin the journey of 2021 together, I’d like to suggest that we look back at where we’ve been.
What gifts have helped you survive in 2020?
What gifts do you need to open and take with you into 2021?
What baggage, old stuff, or “bad presents” do you need to leave behind?
I want to consider in the next few weeks, the gifts that we’ve received from 2020, the gifts we want to receive and give ourselves in the new adventure of 2021.
Consider, look back at your year… I like to use my phone to look at the photos I’ve taken to reflect and take note of what I’ve been up to over the course of the year. You might use your calendar or your Facebook or Instagram feed to reflect on your year.
What things helped you stay sane in 2020?
What were the gifts that you received in 2020?
Who are the people God brought your way as gifts for you to experience?
What experiences have blessed you in 2020?
For me… flowers, planting them, purchasing them and having them in my home.
The view on my walk with our dog, Jake… it gave me a bird’s-eye view of our city and got me praying for places and people I might not think of before.
My bird feeder.
Getting outside in Nature.
Our church Zoom gatherings.
Shows like “Downton Abbey,” “Task Master” on YouTube, “Hamilton” and “The Mandalorian”.
Following people in different countries on Instagram… who helped me travel when I could not.
gifts of 2020
What things do you need to leave behind in 2020?
I’d like to leave behind my desire to fix things… especially those things I cannot control.
I’d like to leave behind my anger and frustration at people I cannot change.
What gifts do you want to bring with you into 2021?
That I don’t have to be as busy as I think I do. I’d like to help other people see the creativity they can have online even when you cannot meet in person.
A gift I want to give to myself and to all of us in 2021 is the The Gift of Compassion and Attention.
Actually, I want us to imagine three gifts, like the three gifts of the Magi.
Let’s open each one and really receive them in 2021.
First Gift:
I want us each to open the gift of compassion for ourselves.
Let’s be honest, we have had a hard year.
We have gone through a lot, on so many levels.
Let’s give ourselves the gift of compassion that where we are is totally OK.
We don’t have to be different, better, or farther along.
Let us truly receive the gift of compassion for ourselves.
Compassion for ourselves
Second Gift:
Let’s open the gift of attention.
What does taking care of ourselves look like in 2021?
We give attention to our work, our homes, our friends and family, but what does it look like to give attention to ourselves?
Giving ourselves the attention we need and deserve just like we’d give a favorite friend or a child.
We need to give ourselves that attention and care, so we can heal
and so we can have margin to give to others.
What does this gift of attention look like for you?
Take some time to reflect on this.
Is it a ritual of a walk each day, a bubble bath, or a nap? Is it time to create something or making a phone/zoom date with a friend?
Actually put it on your list and/on your calendar!
Gift of Attention
Now open the Third box… the gift of attention and compassion for others.
I really want to give this gift to our world!
I want everyone to pay attention to one another in 2021.
Really look and really see
see each other…
not just the person or people who live in your house or my house,
But the people in our neighborhoods, on your street, in your town or city.
Who are they?
What are their lives really like?
How are their lives different or the same because of 2020?
Actually take the time to consider this and walk a bit in their shoes.
These people matter to God.
These people reflect God’s image.
Our Actions or In-actions truly do affect their lives.
How can we open the Gift of Compassion and attention in 2021?
Let’s pray and ask God to give us eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of those around us!
Gift of Compassion for Others
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
The Moon’s journey across the sky from the darkness of the New Moon to the light of the Full Moon has taught me a lot about life’s journey during these “interesting” times. This picture was taken from the back deck of our house in Georgia.
2020 has been an unusual year to say the least. The COVID-19 worldwide Pandemic has changed the way we live, work, recreate, rest, and worship. When we rang in the new year, we had no idea what was in store for us. As a pastor, switching gears from typical worship services to Zoom worship was a huge challenge. Many of my colleagues joked how they never taught us how to construct this sort of worship in seminary. Of course, when I was in seminary, the internet wasn’t available, and I was typing my seminary papers on a manual typewriter!
As Advent approached, I was uncertain what it would look like. My wife and I, along with our puppy, had moved from Colorado to Georgia in the midst of the pandemic so that I could take a new call. Initially, we thought we might be able to have small, 30-minute worship gatherings with a small number of people in the sanctuary and the rest seeing it via stream on our website. However, as we watched the pandemic numbers skyrocket nationwide as well as in our new state and county, the decision was made to continue streaming worship. It was weird to be recording my portions of worship on a Wednesday for broadcast on the following Sunday. Literally, it was hard to remember what week of Advent we were in!
In the midst of all the strangeness of this season, I worked to find the light shining and to recall wonders I saw around me. Today as I am writing (December 21st, Winter Solstice) the clouds have cleared off and the sun is shining. This morning when I awoke and then headed to work, it was gloomy and overcast. I struggled to see the light in the midst of the gloominess. The light first appeared in a non-typical way. A man had stopped by the church and needed help with rent. He asked for three days to take him up to Christmas Day when he would get paid. The motel’s office was closed on Christmas Day, so he didn’t know how to pay for the next week. Using the pastor’s discretionary fund, I was able to pay for another week at the motel. Times have been tough and when you live from paycheck to paycheck, one surprise bill can throw you off completely. As we chatted outside afterwards, I could see a new light in his eyes. I couldn’t see his mouth through the mask he wore, but I definitely saw a light shining that hadn’t been there before. This Christmas, he wouldn’t be on the streets. As we left, we wished each other a Merry Christmas. Later in the morning, the sun came out. The two of us leaned towards the light without knowing it. The simple act of assisting with his rent and then talking together afterwards was the light that shone in the darkness.
In his book, Raids on the Unspeakable, Thomas Merton offered this reflection on there being no room at the inn when Jesus was born.
Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all, Christ has come uninvited. But because He cannot be at home in it, because He is out of place in it, and yet He must be in it, His place is with those others for whom there is no room. His place is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited, who are denied the status of persons… With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world. He is mysteriously present in those for whom there seems to be nothing but the world at its worst. (pp. 72-73)
Part of leaning towards the light is being open to the possibility of meeting Christ in the face of a stranger, of one who lives hidden on the margins. Years ago, I met Jesus in a homeless camp; his name was James. Today, I met Jesus again outside a motel. His name was Arvel. Where will you meet Jesus as you lean towards the light? Blessings on your journey as we move forward into the new year.
Check out another post for this morning: A Guaranteed Way To Make 2021 Better by Donna Chacko
Note: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn an amount on qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support for Godspace in this way.
by Donna Chacko
On this last day of what has been a torturous 2020, let each of us ask: how we can make 2021 better for ourselves and others? I’m convinced that taking the time to ask and answer this question is the first step toward achieving the goal—and, New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to do this.
Cultivating gratitude is one of the most powerful things you can do to make 2021 better. Intentionally shine a bright light of gratitude on your life and then look around. Do you see some blessings that you take for granted? This might be big things like your faith, your family, or your health. Or it could be little blessings of every day life, like your morning coffee, a comfortable chair, a special song, or a baby’s giggle. During this year of altered routines, I noticed I was surprisingly grateful for little things, like my rose blooms or the black Labrador puppy next door. Amidst all the loss, pain, and division, there is always something to be grateful for—even if the one thing is your God who never wavers.
Finding blessings is probably more challenging for those of you who are grieving or overwhelmed with job loss, unbearable financial insecurity, or sickness. I pray every day for your well-being and hope that others who are both blessed and grateful will share their blessings with you. In the meantime, please try to draw close to God for comfort and guidance.
https://pixabay.com/photos/sax-player-jazz-new-york-music-776800/
When the renowned 20th century saxophonist, John Coltrane, shone the light of gratitude on his life, something sacred and mysterious happened. The words of a gratitude prayer sprung from his mind, but the expression of this prayer flowed from his saxophone. He played his prayer, one holy note at a time, in the song Psalm, part of his 1965 album, Love Supreme. Psalm is Coltrane’s heartfelt declaration of faith and gratitude to God after his long struggle with addiction. Coltrane wrote the words to his prayer on a piece of paper, placed that paper on his music stand, picked up his saxophone, and spontaneously played the words on his instrument. It ends with: “Thank you God. Elation. Elegance. Exaltation. All from God. Thank you God. Amen.”
I encourage you to prayerfully listen to Coltrane’s soulful music while simultaneously scrolling through his handwritten lines of prayer. When I did this, I was moved to tears. Through his timeless music, Coltrane shines his gratitude on all who ever listen to his song. He most definitely is letting his light shine in a way that can illumine a better path for us in 2021.
Our world really needs all of us to let our lights shine. Recharge your batteries with prayer. Then reflect on and express your gratitude for what is good and beautiful in your life, no matter how small. Your gratitude will shine a much needed light on our hurting world. You may not reach as many people as Coltrane with the light of your gratitude, but you will feel better and so will those around you. It is a gift that keeps on giving.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
William Arthur Ward
Happy New Year to the Godspace family and special thanks to Christine Sine and her staff. It is a privilege to write in this space. To see more of what I write about health and faith and to receive “Three Keys to a Holy, Happy and Health Life, go to serenityandhealth.com/subscribe.
God bless each of you.
Donna
The lantern wound its way up the hill, three figures hunched around its meagre light. One of the shepherds held something swaddled tight in his fleece jacket, along with the warm stones they’d brought from around their campfire. They were good to stop your hands freezing in the dead of night.
The dark seemed deeper than usual, despite the star being bright, the skies now bereft of the chorus they’d just seen. Was it only an hour since? And the reverberations of that great light echoing out still on their retinae, as it might do always. No-one witnesses something that holy without scarring.
The little lamb might make it, might not. The shepherd rubbed its cold body as they hurried onwards, fearful of being too late. It was the nearest a man could get to being a mother, holding that small body that might live or die in his coat. Willing it to warm up and breathe. Carrying the possibility of life or death and the not-knowing.
The streams of silver light touched the roof of the small house, and they looked at one another before knocking on the door. As it opened, they recognised the same golden glow that had shone out of heaven onto their unspectacular fields, light catching like wool on the thorn bushes. Every ordinary thing was aflame with the sacred tonight. And then they saw him.
The dried blood on the newborn didn’t faze them, they were used to such things. Nor did his raucous cries, full of life, nor the loving gaze of his parents as they carefully washed him and wrapped him in warmth. What held them dumbstruck was the light, the presence in the room of something so softly alive and full of grace that they unconsciously held their breath in awe.
They fell to their knees, all three, setting the lantern down carefully away from the straw. Eventually something more was needed, but they felt words would be inadequate somehow, so just kept their heads bent when they could tear their eyes away from him, this new, tiny King of All. And then there was a strange bleating sound.
The little lamb wrestled and kicked from within its confines and the shepherd had no choice but to let it go free in the small room. They watched amazed as the small creature, so perfect and new, bounded amongst Joseph and his family, making everyone laugh, nudging the two oxen and the ass stood calmly by their mangers.
A dark possibility arrested the shepherd’s thoughts. That they might mistake the lamb for a sacrificial gift. Seeing it now, dancing in the glow of love, the baby gurgling quietly, he had to speak.
“Please, don’t kill it,” he blurted.
The holy mother smiled.
“We won’t.”
“Every lamb of God is welcome here and safe,” said Joseph.
The lantern wound its way back down the hillside a little later, swinging carefree. Three figures walked beside it, free of burdens, a lightness in their steps and a new joy blazing in their hearts.
by Carol Dixon
Do you have a favourite book? One you return to time and time again? And what about your favourite book in the Bible? For me the answer has to be the Gospel of John with its wonderful themes of light and truth. In the last verses it says: I am that disciple who witnessed these things! I recorded these events here so we know that they are accurate. I suppose that if all the events in Jesus life were written the whole world could hardly contain all the books. (John 21: 24-25, New Living Bible paraphrase).
Although I love many parts of the other gospels, John’s gospel remains a favourite of mine as it seems so permeated by love. I have recently enjoyed watching it on YouTube where it is brought to life on film with the actors using the actual words from the Bible and seeing it portrayed visually has given me a different perspective on it which set me thinking about the author who is credited with being the inspiration behind the gospel that bears his name, whether he wrote it in person or not.
As far as we can tell from church history John was one of the most influential figures in the early church. According to church tradition he was the beloved disciple mentioned in John’s gospel. Along with Andrew he was the other follower of John the Baptist who was invited by Jesus into his home at the beginning of the gospel & with his brother James he left their father Zebedee’s fishing business to answer the call of Jesus. (Jesus’ nickname for these two firebrands was ‘Sons of Thunder’.). It was John who leaned close to Jesus at the last supper and it was to him that Jesus entrusted the care of his mother, Mary as he died on the Cross.
Photo by Kerstin Riemer
Patmos, a small rocky island 10miles long & 6 miles wide
In later life, John became Bishop of Ephesus and is credited with writing the book of Revelation. Under the rule of the Emperor Domitian who persecuted the Christians, John was banished to the Greek island, Patmos where many were sent to work as slave labour in the mines. Prisoners who were too old to work were left to roam around foraging for their food or face starvation and it would have been difficult to communicate with one another in this kind of isolation, confined to a particular area and not allowed to leave.
As we come towards the end of a year that seems to have been dominated by lockdown and all kinds of diminishing restrictions I thought of John towards the end of his life living on this small island, cut off from friends & fellow Christians, wondering how he could continue his ministry in exile. The following imaginative reflection describes how he might have felt.
Revelation
I never imagined I’d stay here so long on the island – or that I’d live for such a length of time. I always thought I’d end my days like James, or Paul, or Peter, martyrs to the cause. And yet, I’m happy here. Content with my lot, you might say.
I know every stone, every blade of grass, here on Patmos, each tree and bush but I’m never bored. The ever-changing sky, the sea in all its different moods, the ethereal morning mist, and the glorious quality of evening light still captivate me as they did the first day I was sent here, so many years ago.
I’ve heard the Angel speaking, telling me what to write to the Churches, sharing my Revelations with those who have ears to hear – words of comfort to encourage them, and words of condemnation, berating them for their infidelity (not for nothing were my brother and I nicknamed ‘Sons of Thunder’ in our youth).
I’ve had plenty of time to recall my life. So many emperors and earth-shattering events: towns swallowed by mountains of erupting ash; the holy city of Jerusalem raised to the ground, the Temple sacked, just as Jesus predicted.
Above all, I’ve had the space to reflect on Him, my beloved friend, teacher and Lord; to write down some of our adventures together with God, when I learned in my teens to look at life in new ways.
It is easier now since the lad came– my namesake, scribe and companion. I ramble on; he puts it in order and writes it all down. But every story needs a good end and an even better beginning. Here, lad, sharpen your stylus and we’ll make a start:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…….
———————————-
Feature photo of St John Lindisfarne gospels: Copyright: The British Library Board 2000
by Christine Sine
It’s the 4th day of Christmas and for many of us, it is as though the season is already behind us. I love seeing Christmas as a season rather than a day, and thoroughly enjoy celebrating the 12 days of Christmas. This year I am finding particular joy in exploring the different moods of the season. And Christmas is a season of many moods – of intense joy and celebration, of despair and disbelief, of dreaming and hoping. All of these are woven together in cords of love and life poured out by a compassionate God who we remember at this season as the one who reached down and entered human history in an amazing way.
Christmas contemplative garden
During Advent, I focused on those who surround Mary and Jesus and found myself entering the story of a very human, young woman living a perilous life at the fringes of the Roman Empire. Now my focus has shifted. It all began with my rearranging of my sacred space with a Christmas theme rather than Advent, but it has been much more than that. Aided by a beautiful book of 40 full-colour images of Western art: The Art of Advent by Jane Williams, I am taking a journey towards Epiphany, with an expanding and stunningly hope-filled view of the God of the cosmos.
Nativity by He Qi
I am particularly drawn to He Qi’s Nativity, one of my favourite Christmas paintings, but to be honest, I have never taken the time to explore it in depth. I little like the way I once celebrated Christmas. Jane Williams invites me to do so. Her comment that this nativity scene “shows both the sweet simplicity and the dazzling complexity of what we celebrate at Christmas” stopped me in my tracks. I feel I have spent Advent looking at the simplicity and now God is inviting me to explore some of the complexities.
The geometric lines create a sense of turbulence as worlds collide around this birth”, she explains. “Some of the waves seem to be creating waves of joy: the sheep, for example, seem to be dancing to a music that only they can hear.” The rejoicing of the cosmos, hope for a world transformed and a creation renewed. I drink in the wonder of it and sit in awe of what the birth of this child means not just for me, not just for humankind, but for the whole of God’s creation.
“This one act of God redefines so much”, Williams says. Even Godself is redefined, “God who is, by definition, beyond human knowledge, comes to be God with us, Emmanuel.” We still have trouble getting our heads around that and often try to push God away into a distant heavenly realm disconnected from this earth. We want to hide, just as Adam and Eve hid in the Garden. But God is indeed with us in ways that it is hard for us to comprehend.
“This act of God redefines power. It takes all the might of the creator of the universe to enter into creation and become the opposite of God. It takes shocking force to absorb hatred and violence and death and turn it into love, peace and life.” Wow, wow and wow again. What a message of hope for today. God with us – almost impossible to believe as we look at all that is happening around us.
“Nothing that will happen as God lives with us will make God’s nature change. God will remain loving, creative, living, renewing through all of life and into death, so that we can be sure that God is with us, always, everywhere, bringing new life, new hope, new possibilities. God with us means that our possibilities, our hopes and fears, are not the limits of what can be. God redefines what is possible, as only God who makes all possibilities can. If God is with us then so is life and hope. Perhaps the strange lines that intersect across He Qi’s nativity scene are the signs of the movement of God, restoring the world. (The Art of Advent, Jane Williams 100,101)
Book covers
I am also reading Bruce Epperly’s The Work of Christmas: The 12 Days of Christmas with Howard Thurman, a book that invites us to be light-bearers carrying the message of Divine justice and hope, making it come alive even in the darkest corners of the world. Epperly explains that the story of Christmas emerges out of the darkness:
The darkness of Mary’s womb, the darkness of bleak midwinter, the darkness of powerlessness and poverty, and the darkness of Roman occupation. In such as situation, it is difficult to believe that anything good can be born or that a child will survive the cruelty of despotic hatred. Yet, the story of this child’s birth witnesses to light in the darkness and hope in a time of fear. The light of the world shines most brightly on the darkest night. In the moist darkness of the earth, a seed germinates, holding within itself the promise of a harvest to come. (The Work of Christmas 20, 21)
Epperly goes on to say:
Thurman is a particularly appropriate interpreter of the message of hope that emerges out of darkness. Born in the South in 1899, Thurman, like the Christ Child, experienced the trauma of prejudice throughout his life. … Emmanuel, God with us, is the message of Christmas in the darkness of our own times, when our nation is polarized and people fear the future. (The Work of Christmas 21)
Emmanuel – God with us now and through all eternity. So hard to believe even as we celebrate it, especially in a world as chaotic as ours. Take some time today to explore He Qi’s painting. If you can, set aside at least 30 minutes for a visio divina examination of its simplicity and its complexity. What places and situations make it hard for you to believe that God is with you today?
Now read through Howard Thurman’s poem
“The Work of Christmas”
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.
in The Mood of Christmas & Other Celebrations (1985)
Prayerfully consider how God might ask you to respond.
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Thank you for supporting Godspace in this way.
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