Advent Reflection

This Advent season, one question has emerged:

• Why is newness something that God cares about?

‘“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ‘

Isaiah 43:18-19

‘Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ‘

Revelation 21:1-5
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/REV.21.1-5

It would appear that God cares about doing something new in this world and in our lives! As I get older, I am understanding God’s newness in fresh ways. For one, I am grateful that God cares about the material of my life and that there are some things I need to forget about, and press into new things. In the newness of seasons, there is a loss and an uprooting, as well as a new gift to receive.

Here are a few new things I am experiencing:

• the boys are now in college and don’t need us the same way they used to (grief). This means I also have more time to practice drums in the evening (new rhythms, punny)
• I am no longer cycling for 10 hours a week, doing 150 miles a week (grief). I am now going to the gym and working on muscle mass, stretching, taking care of my body in different ways.
• I am attending a “high church” service on Sunday’s. I love the liturgy. Jesus has met me there in special ways.
• One more: as the boys get older, I have more time to myself. I have time to meditate, pray, read, exercise and slow down. Last weekend, I spent the whole day cooking pozole. That’s it! But I so much attention, time, and love into that sopa!

The space between an old way of life and a new one has been described as liminality. It can be filled with confusion, low key depression, feeling lost, and wondering if things will go back to the way they were. If you find yourself in that space this Christmas season, I would like to encourage you to share what is happening with God and then sit in silence to hear what God might say. It could be that God longs to do something new in your life and is inviting you to participate in this new season. You have a say in the matter. Better to surrender our “say” and let God have his “way” (I know I know…it’s cheesy but it works).

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!