The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:2
It's time to prepare for Advent. I've gathered a few resources to share with you, which I hope and pray (really, I pray) will prepare you to rejoice at Christmas that a great Light has come into our world.
I've just finished meeting with a reading group at my church to discuss the challenges of complicated relationships. The Christmas holidays can add to those challenges, especially in our society. For some, the grief and longing in our souls over difficult relationships can feel heightened by the joyous festivity of the season. We all react differently to the added stress, not only the challenge of the relationship, but also we may feel the need to bury our hurt in an effort not to affect others with our grief. Some of us will continue with our traditions, some will ignore the season altogether, and others will choose to downplay the season. Any of these may be the wisest choice available to us; I’ve made use of them all at one time or another. However, another option is rooted in something other than our coping reactions. One rooted in a historical practice of the Church, the observance of Advent, which can offer us a way to live in our grief and sadness as it points us to hope in Christ's incarnation and his return.
Hannah Anderson explains Advent in this manner as a way "to prepare your heart for Christmas by considering why Jesus came to earth in the first place and why we so desperately long for his return. I want to offer you hope--not by ignoring the brokenness but by looking it squarely in the face, knowing that your Redeemer has and will come." 1
Simply said Advent is a time not to dismiss sorrows but to acknowledge our own sorrows, the sorrows of this world, and the needs that come from living in those sorrows. Sorrows can be many: political unrest domestically and abroad, financial worries, and ill health, whether physical, mental, or emotional, and yes, especially, broken and difficult relationships. After all, Christ came to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father, to rescue and redeem us from our estrangement from Him and all that entailed. He came to renew our relationship with God and let us know He is with us, Immanuel, in our sorrows and even now is working to set them to right.
While I recommend the resources below to help you reflect on our need for reconciliation with Christ and why we can grieve during Advent, I encourage you to put something into practice. Grief and sorrow affect our bodies, minds, and souls in ways recognized many years ago but downplayed until recently. Our minds, bodies, and souls are not separate entities; they are integrated in ways we don't fully understand, and one affects the others. One way of finding comfort for body, mind, and soul is to find beauty in your day. Beauty affects our entire being in ways we don't fully understand, but we experience it as a gift, often received without effort, such as a sunset that causes you to catch your breath or a baby's smile of delight. The reception of beauty can remind us of the grace we receive in our salvation, freely given to be freely received. Sarah Clarkson, explains the role beauty can play explains this well in her book This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness. She tells her story of suffering from mental illness and how God used beauty in her life to remind her of Him and His care. She believes that beauty is a theodicy that we, as humans, can best understand. She encourages us to " 'taste and see' goodness of what he has made and what he continues to create amid our darkness." 2 Simple things can add beauty and comfort to your life when it seems fleeting. You need beauty, and the comfort and hope it gives, even if you don't realize it. Below, I've given examples of simple beauties that encourage me in dark hours; yours are probably different. If you are unsure how to find those beauties, think of things that brought you wonder as a child.
One very simple thing I do is light a candle or two in the early pre-dawn morning or late night hours. The soft glow in the dark helps soften the weariness I sometimes feel in my soul. It reminds me that I have a great light in the darkness.
Feeding and watching birds enjoy the food I offer them encourages me to see I have something to offer, even amid the pain, and to remember that God watches over us all. You can purchase a single suet feeder and suet cake to hang outside a window to get started. This has the advantage of not being expensive (under $5) and offering the birds needed fat for their diet, especially during these colder months.
Short walks in a park or local trail help me to "get out of my head" and focus on the natural creation as the gift it is. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt, an art professor at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, goes on contemplative color walks. She chooses a different color each time she walks and looks for it. While looking for color may or may not work depending on your location during the winter months, you can adapt this to look for anything in nature that you enjoy. Most neighborhoods have parks and trails nearby. A walk in your neighborhood will offer much as you pay attention.
I take photos with my cameras, especially my phone camera, of the beauty I see as a way to see, record, and remember the beauty I encounter. It might be something as simple as the steam rising from my mug of tea or the way the morning or evening light shines on the corner of a room.
I also keep a list of those things that don’t lend themselves to capturing with a camera. The delicious taste of the Black Walnut cake I made from my grandmother’s recipe, the quiet of sitting in a dark room with only the lights on the tree, and memories of happier times.
All these suggestions and more are meant to put you into a place where you can receive the good gifts God gives if we take the time to notice. This can be difficult to do alone. If so, ask a friend to walk with you both metaphorically and literally during this time. If you know someone whose sorrows make the holidays hard, commit to spending them, along with offering your prayers for them. One of my most precious memories is the thoughtful messages from friends on Christmas day.
As I promised, here are a few books, videos, websites, and more that may encourage you during Advent and Christmas.
First up, an Advent workshop by Hannah Anderson with the Equipping Group. Take an hour and a half to listen to this engaging presentation, and come prepared to take a few notes or jot down something that stirs an idea in you. If you are like me and didn't grow up with Advent as part of your life, Hannah walks us through how to incorporate Advent into your current traditions. Even if Advent is not something you are interested in, her thoughts on how different religious communities approach faith formation are well worth your time. You can find it at this link: Re-Engaging the Heart of Advent
As mentioned in the video, Hannah has written a book for Advent, Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World. This follows on the heels of her book and in the same vein as Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit. When I used the book last year for Advent, I found 25 days of devotionals that point to the Promised Son by exploring the natural world of swaddling clothes and aging, valleys and mountains, and evergreens and pigeons. This is a beautiful hardbound book, from the textured cover to the lovingly illustrated pages. You can see more about the book at Hannah's website: Hannah Anderson. While at the site, check out the "Shop" tab in the upper right corner, where you can purchase notecards of some illustrations in the book. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.
The following resource is one that I have appreciated for several years now: Biola's Advent Project. This Advent resource stands out with its daily selections of scripture, devotional, and artwork, including poetry, visual art, and music. You can view it on the web each day or sign up to have a link sent to you. If you want samples of what is offered, look at Advent 2021. Be sure to look at the "About" tab at the bottom for interesting information about the artwork included.
Advent: The Once and Future Coming Of Jesus Christ is a collection of sermons and articles by Rev. Fleming Rutledge that focus on the reality of Christ coming to us in our darkness, bringing light that will not be quenched. This is an extensive volume; thankfully, she has suggestions for how to use the book. I will read many of the Pre-Advent works and then choose one or two from each chapter corresponding to a particular Sunday of Advent. You can find more from Rev. Rutledge on her website.
For those who would like a free option for your phone, this app from Christian House Publishing produces audio of the Daily Prayer for the morning, evening, and night all year round. If you prefer not to use an app, scroll down to the linked website and find the daily prayer.
One that I will be adding this year that is in line with the concept of receiving beauty is the Visual Commentary on Scripture's Creation: Advent Calendar 2024. From their site, "...we will share a daily link to a creation-related artwork and its associated commentary. An audio option will be available, allowing you to enjoy listening to the commentary while exploring the high-resolution image." These devotionals are available here, and you can sign up to have them delivered to your email.
I'll have more in the coming days. My prayer and hope for you is that you will have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to believe that in those dark moments, you will remember you have hope. Hope that is Christ. There is nothing more sure than Him.
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