Advent, Among Other Things...Mainly the Other Things

I had several thoughts today...I know, someone better write that down quickly! 

When we left for church this morning I noticed that the plants (I am a completely uninformed plant person, so that's as specific as it's going to get) at the end of our sidewalk were dead and the long leaves which had been standing taller than Eliana were now lying low and brown on the ground.  As we walked by them Eliana said,"What this happened?!" in the saddest little voice I ever heard.  I would have taken a picture of them this afternoon but it was rainy.

I only noticed them today; I have no idea if they've been like that for a week, or a couple of days, or if it just happened last night.  As we passed them, headed to church on this second Sunday of Advent, I thought,"Isn't it funny that the season in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord is the same season in which we see things in a state of decay all around us."  I continued thinking about it, and realized that we remember his death at the very time when things are coming back to life everywhere we look. 

And then it comes full circle, since during that same time where all things are being renewed we also celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his conquering of death, and the final promise we are given for life, both now and forever. 

Even the seasons hear and answer the call to bring glory to the Creator of the entire universe! 

When I look at those brown, lackluster plants that are stooped low, they seem pitiful.  I am that way, too.  Sometimes I feel as though I want to curl up on the floor just like those plants.  I feel shrivelly and ugly.  But there is another way to see them.  As they lost their own life they were forced to bow down, lying on the concrete with their faces, as it were, in the most humble of positions.  This is a position in which I could find myself as well, humbly bowing down.  Instead of being pitiful I could be worshipful.  Mindful of the One who made me.  In awe of the One who loves me.  Grateful for the One who saves me. 

I'm looking forward to Christmas and I'm enjoying the season; I love the beautiful music, the glorious lights, the lovely garlands, the bright berries.  I love thinking about the hope that we have because of a King who came into the world in the most humble way and then went on to live and die and live again so that all things could be made new.  I love that my children sing his praises, too, and know hymns by heart that I never did. 

I sat in on a class that Mike taught this morning and he said something that struck me; I thought it was so simple and yet so profound.  He said that the character of a king determines the path of the nation.  I thought of how our King is righteous, good, loving, humble, compassionate, and faithful.  And everything he does is for the Father's glory.  There are so many ways that I fall short, every day...sometimes every minute of every day.  I have questioned whether or not I could possibly be a Christian because my heart is so rebellious.  There are people who might say,"Stop that!  Don't be so hard on yourself!"  But I know what's in there, and so does he.  And the miracle is, if what I read in the Bible is true, that he loves me anyway.  He loved me already.  He loved me when I was his enemy.  These things are true for each of us.

Where am I going with this?  I don't know...I was thinking about the King.  And how I don't measure up, but how he is still leading.  His character is stronger than my flaws.  His faithfulness doesn't depend upon my obedience.  And even though I waver, or feel so far away from him at times, I still follow.  Stumbling and scraping my knees, diverting down the wrong path momentarily, scrambling to see him once again, I follow. 

A little note, lest anyone be worried about my theology...these are things that I feel (remember?  I'm a right-brained person!); I realize that my experience doesn't always reflect reality.  I also would say that while the Lord calls, and the people follow, in some mysterious way he also enables and even carries those whom he calls.  I can only speak to so many things at once!  For now, it's the falling-behind-scurrying-to-catch-up feeling. 

Anyway, the main point isn't my own waywardness, but his steady leading.  He is strong.  He is good.  He is loving.  He is perfect.  He is leading his people to their home, and their home is with the Father.  His character determines the path of his people.  We can trust to follow on the path because of his character; it never changes.  What a gift we have been given, that we can know our King the way that we can!  How I need to take advantage of that gift! 

I'm pretty sure that this makes not much sense...and I'm not sure how I got from dead plants on the sidewalk to the glorious future that awaits us one day...I'm tricky like that.  I wonder if the trees and the flowers look forward to spring as much as I'm looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth?  Or as much as you might be looking forward to the end of this crazy post?

I walk down the sidewalk every day.  I will pass those plants and I will watch for that miraculous renewal that is sure to come.  The amazing thing is this...as I walk down the path that Jesus has determined for his people I am invited to be a part of the miraculous renewal.  The question is how will I choose to do it.  How will I respond to such a weighty and awesome invitation?  What do you think about that?  What part do you play, or will you play?  I would love to hear your thoughts, because mine are a jumbled mess, and it seems like they should be as clear as the most beautiful and heavenly of bells...

Comments

[Elaine]

That was great.

[Mindee@ourfrontdoor]

Deep thoughts for a Monday morning Christina. :)