Week 1 - Day 7

Reflection & Action

We began the week with the reminder that for Christians, “hope is not the absence of darkness. It is the presence of Christ within it.” The regular rhythm of nightfall is, in a sense, a daily reminder that none of us can escape the darkness of our world. But what if, as we have been reminded this week, there is a hope in the midst of the darkness? As the first week of Advent comes to an end, what would it mean for you, instead of seeking to avoid the darkness, to look for the presence of Jesus in the darkness? The psalms are full of reminders that God is present in trouble, that He walks with us in the valley of deep darkness, and that even darkness is not dark to Him.

Consider trying one of these exercises as a way of engaging with hope in darkness:

• Sit in a dark room alone, or with family or friends. Notice what it feels like to be surrounded by darkness. After a time of silence, speak out loud to Jesus. Greet Him and thank Him for being present in the darkness. When you turn the lights back on, thank Him for being present in the light as well, and for the hope that one day darkness will be forgotten and light will be all we know.

• There’s a tradition at Christmas of making wish lists of gifts and sending them to Santa or to our family. While it might feel like Christmas lists commercialize Jesus’s birth, we can also see them as an opportunity to understand the desires that we and others around us have. Could these lists actually be a window into the deep desires we all have for ‘that other world’, as Pastor Giotis wrote about on Friday? Look for an opportunity this weekend to talk with someone about what they want for Christmas. As they talk, listen for the longing for God’s real and true kingdom hidden beneath the surface.

Week 2 - Day 7

Reflection & Action

This week focused on the peace of Advent in the face of the strains of life. Jordan Woodrick named what many of us feel: “the fear that instead of doing it all, I might be overcome by it all.” As you read Quinn’s description of tired legs that supported arms of peace, and Ethan’s view of God’s shalom in the chaotic neighborhoods of South Asia, what did you discover about peace in your own life?

Try one of these activities this weekend as a way to connect with the God of peace:

• Begin at a place with lots of people - the mall, a sporting event, a busy restaurant. God’s peace is about restoring relationships and experiencing the fullness of life. Can you begin to see signs of this kind of peace, even when things are loud and crowded? Pay attention to what people are doing, the sounds you hear, the smells. Do you hear laughter? Do you smell delicious food? Are people smiling, talking with each other? These are glimpses of peace. Thank God for them as you enter into the busyness around you.

• If the line about being “overcome by it all” resonated with you, consider reflecting on what exactly threatens to overwhelm you. Gather some things that help you feel calm (snacks, candles, a blanket, some hot tea) and settle into a few quiet moments with God. Hold your hands out, palms up, and invite Him to hear all the things running through your mind. Then turn your hands over to symbolize releasing those things to God. Finally, turn your palms back up to receive the peace that God wants to give us.

Week 3 - Day 7

Reflection & Action

Advent means “arrival”, but in the season of Advent, we celebrate both the arriving and the waiting that are connected to Jesus’s birth.

Try one of these exercises today as you reflect on your own experiences of waiting for joy in this season:

• Even in an instant world we have to wait. We wait at stoplights, we wait for deliveries; many professional offices have dedicated waiting rooms. When you find yourself waiting for something today, use it as an opportunity to consider the things that bring you joy at this time in your life. Is it difficult to find sources of joy, or do they come to mind easily?

• Is there someone in your life who is waiting for joy to appear? Could you do something for them to bring joy a little closer, or remind them that they are not alone as they wait? Consider dropping off a note with a Starbucks gift card, or taking them for lunch “just because”.