From Rev Gal Blog Pals:
"Imagine a complex, multi-cultural society that annually holds an elaborate winter festival, one that lasts not simply a few days, but several weeks. This great festival celebrates the birth of the Lord and Saviour of the world, the prince of peace, a man who is divine. People mark the festival with great abundance- feasting, drinking and gift giving....." (Richard Horsley-The Liberation of Christmas)
The passage goes on, recounting the decorations that are hung, and the songs and dances that accompany the festival, how the economy booms and philanthropic acts abound....
But this is not Christmas- this is a Roman festival in celebration of the Emperor....This is the world that Jesus was born into! The world where the early Christians would ask "Who is your Saviour the Emperor or Christ?"
And yet our shops and stores and often our lives are caught up in a world that looks very much like the one of ancient Rome, where we worship at the shrine of consumerism....
Advent on the other hand calls us into the darkness, a time of quiet preparation, a time of waiting, and re-discovering the wonder of the knowledge that God is with us. Advent's call is to simplicity and not abundance, a time when we wait for glorious light of God to come again...
Christ is with us at this time of advent, in the darkness, and Christ is coming with his light- not the light of the shopping centre, but the light of love and truth and beauty.
What do you long for this advent? What are your hopes and dreams for the future? What is your prayer today?
In the vein of simplicity I ask you to list five advent longings....
Longings...
1. I long to be free to the things that trap me--debt, weight, stuff. I want to be lighter, to be more free to do things, to be still, to not worry (and, I'm happy to report that I'm actively working on all these things).
2. I long for a break in the frenzy. Things get busy. People get anxious. I get anxious. I get busy. People act one way. I act another. And all this can drive me a little nuts. I think the challenge is to remember that wackyness will ensue. Wackyness will always be part of my life--it always has been, it's part of my genetic make-up. What I want is to remember that it's okay when things get a little wonky and that it's all part of the whole being human piece. I long for is being able to be centered and calm in the midst of the wackyness of the world, of my world.
3. I long for people to recognize that the Twilight series has some seriously problematic themes and messages to young women. Buffy, however, rocks and is wicked empowering. (this third longing is really just a shout out to I are a writer, who, gratefully, gets this).
4. I long for a child.
5. I long for space: space to write, space to pray, space to be still and know that God is God.
Longings...
1. I long to be free to the things that trap me--debt, weight, stuff. I want to be lighter, to be more free to do things, to be still, to not worry (and, I'm happy to report that I'm actively working on all these things).
2. I long for a break in the frenzy. Things get busy. People get anxious. I get anxious. I get busy. People act one way. I act another. And all this can drive me a little nuts. I think the challenge is to remember that wackyness will ensue. Wackyness will always be part of my life--it always has been, it's part of my genetic make-up. What I want is to remember that it's okay when things get a little wonky and that it's all part of the whole being human piece. I long for is being able to be centered and calm in the midst of the wackyness of the world, of my world.
3. I long for people to recognize that the Twilight series has some seriously problematic themes and messages to young women. Buffy, however, rocks and is wicked empowering. (this third longing is really just a shout out to I are a writer, who, gratefully, gets this).
4. I long for a child.
5. I long for space: space to write, space to pray, space to be still and know that God is God.
2 comments:
such deep longings, may God bless and keep you
I agree that the twilight series is problematic. I read them all, and they are an enjoyable read. However, the main character gets a little to obsessed with the boy. Her whole identity gets wrapped up in him way too fast at way to young an age. Plus, the whole saving the damsel in distress motif for both the boys is limiting for guys roles in the world as well.
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