“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you…When you see this, your heart will rejoice; your entire being will flourish like grass.”    – Isaiah 66: 13a, 14a

At some point, in some way that is beyond our normal comprehension, God made the decision to come and join human history, in the bodily form of a baby placed in a feeding trough in what is now the Palestinian (West Bank) city of Bethlehem! As we know, this changed the world forever, not only spiritually but in every other way we can name.

Part of what we are celebrating at Christmas, then, is that God did something new and different to break through to God’s beloved Creation, when the word became flesh. All around the world, we have myriad wonderful ways of celebrating the gift and miracle of Emmanuel, God with us. What if this year, we honored the birth of Christ by doing something new and different ourselves?

What if, in response to God’s new and startling inbreaking, we set an intention this Advent to express our devotion to God and our welcome of the Christ child by trying something we have not done before? Could your Advent season and your life be enhanced by a new behavior, maybe a spiritual practice, or an activity, a mission, a quest, or a new healthy habit? Is there a book you wanted to read, but haven’t taken the time, or could your new thing be journaling, going to Dismas House for dinner with the Missions and Service Team, meeting for prayer with the Pastoral Minister, joining a bible study, praying alone for 5 minutes a day, joining the choir, or even saying hello to a pain-in-the-backside neighbor?

We are churchy people, or we wouldn’t be reading this, probably. We each have ways we have experienced God’s presence and ways we have expressed our love and discipleship, to this point in our lives. So…what’s next? Grace can walk alongside you, encourage you, embrace you in your quest, but the deciding and the doing, that’s up to you, pilgrim. Up to you and the One who made you, Loves you, and Holds you.

Pray. Talk to God, even for a moment. Listen, breathe. What do you sense God is calling you toward, as your next step closer to Christ? I’m guessing that step will bring you challenge, fullness, and ultimately, JOY.

Advent, even the word, means that God is coming this way. What if we lean into God’s imminent approach in a new and special way this season? What if we take a step closer, too?

Wishing an Advent Full of New and Ancient Wonder to our Entire Grace Family!     — Terry