Live in the Longing

 

Closing the day standing still with the beginning of Advent. I’ve been in thought as the month of November has wound down and December has approached.  All around I’ve noted Christmas decorations appearing on homes; windows yielding views of Christmas trees; Christmas craft bazaars, programs and festivals are occurring; Christmas music playing; the noise of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales; and dates on calendars filling with seasonal happenings. Many feel anticipation growing, festiveness building, and Christmas mirth unfolding.  

There is a deeper feeling to be noted.  It lies behind the hurry, beyond the visible, below the joyful melodies, and beneath the merriment and amusement. It exists amidst the noise, the distractions, and the busyness of our minds and the world around us.  It persists in the depths of our hearts with growing tension.  It’s deeper than a wish or a desire. Pause – just for a moment.  Let yourself feel it.  Acknowledge it. Do you recognize it?

Longing.

A strong persistent yearning for something undefined or distant.

A languishing of the heart to be connected to that which is missing or to fill what is hollow.

Longing is a constant feeling for each of us.  For some it overwhelms and becomes despair.  For others, it becomes anxiety and fear.  Amidst the bitter parts of our earthly existence – pain, loneliness, grief, regret, conflict, weariness, disappointment, loss – we long for hope, for peace, for joy and for love. 

Here’s the thing…  It is during this ‘season’ of Christmas that the feeling of longing swells and becomes quite beautiful if you stand still with it. Because Christmas, the coming of Christ, meets our longing. It stops the languishing of our souls.  It ends our hearts’ yearning. It fills our emptiness. We see our hope become certainty.  We are given peace, that which is the abundance of God’s grace making us whole.  We know joy, inner delight in which we live unaffected by circumstance. We find love that is unconditional, given and made whole and complete through Christ’s coming and sacrifice.

During this year’s Advent, this time of “coming,” this time of “arrival,” I will live in the longing.  I will slow down and recognize my heart and soul’s sacred longing. I will pause and stand still the hope, the peace, the joy and the love that Christmas, the coming of Christ, brings.  On Christmas I will celebrate the fulfillment of the longing of my soul and live life from that gift.  Join me? It is my prayer you will do the same.

May the God of HOPE fill you with ALL joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. -  Romans 15:13

You will be secure, because there is HOPE; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. – Job 11:18

You will go out in JOY and be led forth in PEACE. – Isaiah 55:12

Do not grieve, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

For I am sure that neither death no life, nor angels, nor rulers, no things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39