New Beginnings: See? I am doing a new thing. --God
Advent, Week 2 Life Requires Many Preparations
(purple candle: "Preparation", a.k.a. 'the Bethlehem
candle)
Last week, the first week of Advent, we considered the (purple)
candle of Hope and noted that the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus, was a
fulfillment of prophecy. More importantly, the people walking in darkness (all
of us have done so) saw the Light shine on our lives, and He walked us into
Hope. Today we focus on the (purple) Candle of Preparation.
Our lives are filled with daily tasks, special occasions, and
traditions, which require numerous preparations. Some situations require more time
and planning than others. . For example, most married couples will regale you with
mishaps that occurred during their wedding preparations. When we set, and
changed our wedding date three times, Steve and I found ourselves empathizing
with those narratives. Our immediate challenge was deciding on a venue, which was
not an easy task, because the Salvation Army Officer (pastor) chosen to officiate
our ceremony lived in Toronto, Ontario. Meanwhile Steve and I lived in
different cities, outside of Toronto; his family resided in Alberta; and my
parents, lived in the Montreal-area of Quebec, but health issues prevented them
from travelling. In addition to planning for our daily lives and for special
occasions, we know that annual family traditions require advanced preparations.
For instance, we know that Christmas traditions help ground us, promote
continuity between family generations, and require yearly planning. Plus, new
traditions are often created when a family expands to include spouses and their
children. Yet even traditional family gatherings have unexpected outcomes. The
bottom line is that life takes planning and many preparations.
And, unquestionably, it’s nice when our plans come together, but our
choices don’t always work out the way we had anticipated. Certainly Mary, the
mother of Jesus, wasn’t prepared for the events surrounding her pregnancy. In fact,
she hadn’t planned to get pregnant until after she was married. Nor had
she foreseen the rocky and dangerous trip to Bethlehem to register for the
census decreed by Caesar Augustus, especially when she was close to giving
birth. Furthermore, Mary and Joseph expected to find cozy, warm lodgings when
they arrived. Instead, she gave birth in a drafty, cold stable, wrapped her new
baby in strips of cloth and laid Him in an animal trough for a crib—instead of
the lovingly crafted and beautiful cradle that Joseph, a carpenter, would have
surely created. So, in the midst of all these obstacles, expectations had to be
adjusted and hasty preparations made.
Yet one of the most important preparations that Mary and Joseph
made occurred long before their betrothal. They loved God and kept their hearts
and spirits open to His leading. This enabled them to live their lives with
hope and optimism in spite of the many events that had not gone according to
their plans. In fact, their openness and sensitivity to God enabled them to act
quickly when they received urgent directions for immediate and essential
changes. How open are our spirits, hearts, and minds open to God's leading? As
we make preparations in our homes and lives to celebrate this holy season of
Advent, may we be sensitive and tuned in to what God is saying to us.
Suggest Bible readings:
Sunday Matthew 18: 1-5
Monday Luke 2: 1-7
Tuesday Isaiah 25: 6-9
Wednesday Isaiah 40: 1-5
Thursday 1 Peter 1:
1-13-23
Friday Matthew
14: 1-14
Saturday John 14: 1-14
Blessings& Peace
Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk
Former Salvation Army Officer, (Pastor)
Canada
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