A most wonderful time of the year?

Walking in the Truth during Advent

Devotional Thoughts from A Slice of Infinity *

"Bleak Midwinter . . . Impossible to miss in any mall, grocery store, elevator, or voice mail system, Christmas music is as ubiquitous as the snow of the season. I have yet to walk into a store this Christmas season that wasn't playing, 'It's the most wonderful time of the year ' . . . With this music all around, who wouldn't begin to hum along & get caught up in the uplift that can be the holiday season.

"And yet, for many this season is anything but wonderful. In fact, the music simply sounds out of tune or reinforces dissonant chords because of the memories, emotions & experiences now associated with the season. Families in San Bernardino feel the emptiness of loss, the hemorrhage of violence, & the undertow of grief as a result of two shooters. Events like these, & those that have occurred around the world, will mark Christmas seasons with the stains of tears. There are many who also grieve in this season because of the loss of loved ones--not from gun violence--but from the violence of a body turned against itself through cancer or some other debilitating or destructive disease. For them, Christmas reminds them of yet another empty chair. Others experience a numbing loneliness, disappointed expectations, ruptured relationships, & rejections that twist & distort the joy of the season into a garish spectacle. Instead of uplifting them in celebration, the most wonderful time of the year can seem a cruel mockery . . . 

"Yet, according to the Christian gospel into this world--the world of the bleak midwinter--God arrived. Not sheltered from grief or pain, God descended into a world where poverty, violence & grief were a daily part of God's human existence. Joseph & Mary, barely teenagers, were poor, & Mary gave birth in a dirty barn. [SEE Luke 2:4-7.] Herod used his power to slaughter all the male children who were in Bethlehem under the age of two. Shepherds still slept on grassy hills, their nomadic home. John the Baptizer would be beheaded. And God who Christians believe was the man Jesus would experience rejection & eventually die a criminal's death with only a few grieving women remaining at His side . . . 

"Into this world--the world of bleak midwinter--God arrives. God arrives in the midst of pain & suffering, doubt & disappointment, longing & loneliness coming alongside of even this kind of human experience because of 'great, eternal love.' The Gospel of John explores the mystery of a God who did not stay removed from humanity, or from human sufferings, but as the Word made flesh came & dwelt among us. For those who find the Christmas season far from the most wonderful time of the time, may Immanuel, God with us--even in the bleakest midwinter--be sweet consolation.

"And for all who celebrate this Season as the most wonderful time of the of the year, demonstrate its wonder, its beauty, its joy & celebration, by reaching out to those in bleak midwinter."

Today's Scripture

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  Gospel of John 1:14  [SEE John 1:1-14 for the full context.]

Today's Prayer Thoughts

If you feel like you are in the bleakest of midwinter, take hope! The Word became flesh & dwelt among us. For you! Ask God to grant you that joy. And if you already feel that joy & know someone else who is in the bleakest of midwinter, ask Jesus to help you shine the light of Jesus' hope into his or her heart.

A Reminder about the Source

Because I didn't write devotions for the LHNE Daily Bulletin during last year's Advent season, I started this Advent season by "borrowing" some devotional thoughts from Martin Luther. Now I'm borrowing some devotional thoughts from those who write daily devotionals for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). They are much better writers than I am, much deeper theologians, deeper thinkers. Worth checking out.

* Source:  Excerpt from RZIM Daily Devotional, by Margaret Manning Shull, 12/8/15