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 in 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

 

Journeys of Christmas and more

As I've been Standing Still with Christmas this year, I've read and considered the story and all the traditional meditations  - A Coming: the fulfillment of the covenant found in a baby; Joy: the world receives a Savior; Peace: the arrival of the Prince of Peace; Sharing: of gifts, but even more important Good News - so Go Tell It ... over the hills and everywhere!

I was struck by a different theme in the Christmas Story to meditate on this year... JOURNEY.
Journey.  A distance or course traveled.
Mary and Joseph had gone on a journey back to Bethlehem - a long arduous journey that was at the very least uncomfortable for Mary and must have involved PATIENCE on the part of Joseph.  But most of all this was a journey of TRUST -  A young girl finding herself in the family way with no human explanation; a gentleman who upon hearing the message of an angel took his bride despite human misgivings.
The Wisemen had gone on a journey to find a newborn king.  Setting out in great ANTICIPATION, traveling a very far distance over a long period of time yet never wavering in their BELIEF of the PROMISE in what lay at the end of the journey even though the journey's end was found in the most humble of homes.
The Shepherds had gone on a journey to a stable after receiving what had to have been an announcement that inspired great WONDER and AWE as well as HOPE.
Each journey led them to one end  - a babe.  The Prince of Peace.  The Lamb.  The Counselor.  The Messiah.  The Savior. 
Each journey ended quite simply put.... in JOY.

Journey. A distance or course traveled; passage or progress from one stage to another. 
Each of us is taking a journey.  One that involves much that is similar to those who journeyed for that Christmas.  Our journeys involve patience, trust, anticipation, wonder, and awe.  No matter what our journeys bring, we don't have to travel alone.  We have the FATHER who has promised us just that.  Every year we are reminded of HIS PROMISE and our HOPE in Christmas as we celebrate the SAVIOR. 
Our journey has been extra blessed by the people we've traveled with - relationships that are blessings to our family; reconnecting with dear friends; continuing to deepen other friendships; and finding new companions with whom to travel.  We've made great memories along the way.  But the best of all is that we have common JOY in knowing and visibly seeing the ONE who guides our journey and we travel with both knowing and assured of our destination.
It is our prayer for each of you to travel your JOURNEY in this HOPE knowing your are loved unconditionally and that knowing the SAVIOR, your journey will end in JOY!

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born.
John 3:16   For God so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and whosoever believes in Him shall have Everlasting Life.
John 15:11   I have told you this so your Joy may be made complete.
Romans 8:38-39   For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Preparing

I just got a “10 days ‘til Christmas” reminder.  I have to admit though that I am not fully prepared.  I have been busy – decorations are hung; the tree is up; I’ve done some gift planning and purchasing and even some wrapping; attended several holiday events.  But I’m not totally prepared. I stood still today with thoughts on what it takes to prepare.
Prepare.  To get ready.
Preparing for Christmas seems to have become an ordeal of sorts.  Decorating, planning, purchasing, attending, baking, cleaning, traveling…
I reflect on the hustle and bustle of those around me and yes, I’ve gotten caught up in it as well.
I wonder with all that we are preparing – am I preparing my heart for CHRISTmas?  Am I preparing for the coming of the babe in the manger – the coming of the Savior – not a holiday season but the REASON for the season?
For you see, prepare also means “to put in proper condition”.
How am I putting my heart in proper condition?
I think it is a matter of being still and drawing near.  In James, God promises that as we draw near to Him, He will draw nearer to us.  I will focus on the blessings of hope, peace and joy found in the manager.

Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men