Trying On Advent - Fourth Sunday

Waiting for the Son of God

Today in reading a morning meditation, I found some telling words written by Henri Nouwen,

We often experience our time as empty.  We hope that tomorrow, next week, next month or next year the real things will happen. But sometimes we experience the fullness of time.  That is when it seems that time stands still, that past, present, and future become one; that everything is present where we are; and that God, we, and all that is have come together in total unity.   This is the experience of God's time.  "When the completion of the time came [that is: in the fullness of time], God sent his Son, born of a woman" (Galatians 4:4), and in the fullness of time God will "bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth" (Ephesians 1:10).   It is in the fullness of time that we meet God.” 

Throughout this Advent series, I have related the waiting of Advent to my observations in raising monarch butterflies.  The transformation of the monarch butterfly is a story of hope in waiting.  Where, as Nouwen says, “the past, present, and future become one; that everything is present where we are…”  In the case of the monarch, that’s the seed, the caterpillar, the chrysalis, the butterfly.  All are one, reperesented in different forms.  But, it has not come into the fullness of time yet.  And so we wait, even when it turns black and death appears imminent. 

There are moments in Advent where we must be still and wait; moments to be sorrowful for what was; and, moments to rejoice in hope for what is to come.  It too is a story of hope in waiting.  Likewise, my life is a story of hope in waiting.  Christ in me, the hope of glory.  There will be more seasons of my life where I must wait, unsure of what is to come.  There will be more seasons that come suddenly as unexpected, unwelcome changes force me to find a new normal.  And there will be more seasons of celebration and joy. 

Regardless of the catalyst for change, what week of Advent we are in, or what stage of transformation either the monarch or I am in, He is present in all of it.  He is present.  Yes.  He is the present.  As Nouwen writes, we are deeply blessed when we

 “experience the fullness of time.  That is when it seems that time stands still, that past, present, and future become one; that everything is present where we are… and God and we, and all that is have come together in total unity.”  

The Word, The Baby, The Messiah, The King.  He is present… all at the same time, represented by different forms.   This is the story of hope in waiting… hope in transformation.  It is the story of Him who was and is, and is to come… all at the same time.

…and in the fullness of time God will bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth" (Ephesians 1:10).

So, we wait in longing for the Son of God, who was the infant Christ child; and is our Savior; and who will come again as King.  The monarch butterfly, who must wait in its chrysalis form, is a symbol of joyous expectation even though it must endure changing from a glorious jade green to the blackest form.  What appears to die, will be transformed into new life in the resurrection.  Like Christ did, like the monarch butterfly does, like I will some day. 

Come, Lord Jesus.

Trying On Advent - Third Sunday

Waiting With Joy… Rejoice!

Instead of using the traditional pink candle to symbolize our joy in waiting for the Christ child, today I’m using a beautiful jade green.  I think you’ll see why below.  In following suit with my previous posts in this Advent series, I am reminded of the waiting process, and the beautiful colors I have observed while studying the metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly.  Come and see the  beauty in the stillness and waiting for what we know will become of the jade green chrysalis.   Celebrate the gift of knowing He will come again!

Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

Colossians 1:27

 

I find it quite wonderful that, in all of its yellow, black and white striped-ness, when the monarch caterpillar molts for the last time, it secures itself to its foundation and hangs upside down for about two days. 

It emerges as a beautiful jade colored chrysalis.   What a surprise!    It makes sense though.  All of its life it has eaten only the green milkweed plant.  In the transformation, it has become the very substance of what it has taken in.  In the same way then, if I faithfully take in the Word of God, shall I not become more like him?  While this chrysalis is a symbol of waiting for the return of Christ in all of his glory, it has also become a symbol to me of waiting for my resurrected life that is to come. 

Pray

We celebrate your presence with us, Emmanuel.

We rejoice in the hope that you are coming again.

We rejoice in the stillness and beauty of waiting, growing.

In the waiting, you are here, loving us, guiding us, changing us.

Thank you for the gift of time.

Help me to trust you in the waiting.

You have proved your faithfulness over all the ages.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

I am amazed by you, Oh God!

I love you and wait for you with open arms!

Come Lord Jesus!

Patricia Spreng

 
In his book (click... Discovering Advent, Mark D. Roberts writes that “In the Christian season of Advent we prepare for the “advent” of Christ at Christmas. Our preparation includes many things:

We remember Israel’s hope for the coming of God’s Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore.

We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus.

We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins.

We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts.

Today we remember the joy of waiting, because we know how the story ends!”

(Roberts, Mark D. (2011-11-07). Discovering Advent: How to Experience the Power of Waiting on God at Christmastime (Kindle Locations 627-631). Patheos. Kindle Edition.)

Joining the faith building communities of Laura at The Wellspring,
Deidra at Jumping Tandem,

Trying On Advent - The Second Sunday

Rewind: 

As a child, my family and our church observed the season of Advent. There was definitely a  sense of anticipation in the air and I knew it had something to do with God and Christmas.  But, I spent most of my Advent time preparing the way I imagine most children did… anticipating the arrival of Santa and presents.

Fast forward: 

This year during the second week of Advent, I happen to be in downtown Chicago, IL with two of my sisters.  It is a far cry from a place of quiet preparation.  For four days I have been working with my sister in her business… selling her beautiful, warm, woolen wares alongside 900 other talented artisans who are selling their wares at an exclusive art show held in an enormous convention center.  I have been engulfed in one of the busiest “holiday” selling and buying seasons.  No one here seems to have heard there was an economic downturn.

Pause: 

In his book, Discovering Advent, Mark D. Roberts reminds us that “the main point of Advent is growing into a deeper, truer relationship with God. It’s sharing our yearning and hope with our community of faith. It’s getting in touch with our need for a Savior and our yearning for the kingdom of God. In Advent, by putting ourselves in the place of those who, centuries ago, longed for a Messiah to set them free, we get our hearts ready to be renewed by the good news of Christmas: “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”
Roberts details how during Advent, (which is Latin for the word coming,) “Our preparation includes many things:

We remember Israel’s hope for the coming of God’s Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore.  
We remember our hope for the second coming of Jesus.
We remember our need for a Savior to save us from our sins.
We prepare to welcome Christ at Christmas into our world . . . and into our hearts.

Today we focus on the coming of Christ who brings forgiveness from our sins.”

Roberts, Mark D. (2011-11-07). Discovering Advent: How to Experience the Power of Waiting on God at Christmastime (Kindle Location  498-501; 575-583; 586). Patheos. Kindle Edition.

 

 

Retreat:     

It’s no coincidence that the first time I decide to observe Advent in my adult writing life, I have come face to face with Robert’s suggestion to focus on seeking forgiveness during this second  week of Advent.  For me, this is definitely not the easy part of Advent.   Seeking forgiveness is difficult no matter what day it is or church I belong to.  I am truly thankful for how God provides the way for forgiveness. 

 

Here again, I am reminded this week of the lessons I have learned in raising monarch butterflies.  These are a few observations I’ve made and how they relate to forgiveness... 

 
Four or five times through the course of its life, the monarch caterpillar crawls away from its milkweed plant and remains completely still for two to three days.  It does not eat.  It does not move. Then slowly, very slowly, it begins to move forward through the molting process.  In an undulating movement that takes time… it leaves its old skin behind.  It still looks and acts just like a caterpillar.  But, something has taken place inside.   If I truly retreat to be alone with God, I know I come away looking the same… but, hopefully, I am changed inside.  This is spiritual transformation... my trust-formation.  Little by little, God challenges me, changes me.  It is not easy.  It takes work.  Retreating allows me to  look at myself, listen to God, and ask him for his strength and courage to change, to leave behind old habits, behaviors, thoughts and sin. 

This caterpillar has just crawled out of its skin and left the old behind. 

… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews12: 1 NIV

… let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.   Hebrews 12:1 ESV

After crawling out of the old skin that doesn’t fit any longer, the last step of molting fascinated me the most.  The caterpillar uses one of its front legs to flick off the remaining old skin around its face.  The dead face mask looks somewhat like a tiny catcher’s mask.  I wondered as I grow in Christ, what old or false identities must I remove in order to reflect Christ more?  

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.    James 4:8-10 NLT

Renew

Psalm 130:7-8

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Pray

I wait for you Lord.
In this waiting, help me to retreat and reflect…
to shed behaviors  that do not please you.
Forgive my sins.
Help me to live to reflect Your likeness.
Thank you for your cleansing forgiveness, Lord.
Keep redeeming every part of me,
Strengthen me to change…
for I am your Israel.
Come Lord Jesus.


Patricia Spreng

Joining with Charity Singleton at the High Calling Advent Writing Project 

and with Laura at The Wellspring, Playdates With God

The Butterfly Circus

My 18 year old son shared this movie with me and we watched it together last night.  It is well worth the 20 minutes it takes to watch it.  As much as I love the message of the movie; I love that my son loved it and he knew I would love it.  That kind of connection with a child is my favorite kind of gift.  Thank you, Evan.

To watch the short film: The Butterfly Circus (click here) 

Don’t conform to the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:2