Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Christmas 2011 is now past. The hurry, the scurry, the busyness has come and gone. There settles over the house a contentment, a calm which contrasts to the last few weeks. I enjoy this week between Christmas and New Year’s – it is a time to slow down, to rest, to think and reflect.

During the holidays, I was drawn to this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. God kept dropping it in my path.

Advent is a time of waiting. Our whole life, however, is Advent--that is, a time of waiting for the ultimate, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, when all people are brothers and sisters and one rejoices in the words of the angels: “On earth peace to those on whom God's favor rests.” Learn to wait, because He has promised to come. "I stand at the door..." We however call to him: "Yes, come soon, Lord Jesus!"

When Christ does return, we shall finally live in the world that we dream about, that we hope for each Christmas season: one in which love reigns, hopes are realized, people treasure one another.

And God will once again dwell with us.

“He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, the God Himself shall be among them.”

Though Christmas is over, we can still sing “Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

One Eye on Heaven

I know of no other way to live this life except by keeping one eye on Heaven. Even in the best of times, deep inside I feel a dull ache for something more. Some days, life's frailty causes me to cast a longing eye toward Heaven. And then there are days when man's sin thunders so loud that I scream for Heaven NOW. I want an end to the misery of sin. I want God's kingdom to reign on earth NOW.

Yet God waits. He continues to work out His perfect will. The events of life that surprise me are no surprise to Him. God, who knows the beginning from the end, patiently listens to me and remains steadfast in accomplishing in purposes in my life as well as in the lives of those around me. I am glad that He takes counsel with Himself and not with me.

One day we shall see His visible Kingdom on earth. Meanwhile I pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."

As with many of you, I have struggled these last two weeks to comprehend all that those in Haiti are enduring. So much heart ache...so much destruction...so much death. And I wonder - is there anything I can do? Is there any way to help? I wonder how will they rebuild their houses, their communities, their lives?

There is some good news - stories of those who have been rescued, stories of buildings that were not crushed, stories of volunteers who have gone to help.

But I am also waiting to hear the news of others. Two weeks is a long time in all that rubble. Is it even possible to survive? Yet even today someone was pulled out alive. So hope remains. Yet fears continue. And in the midst of the waiting, daily life goes on.

It seems that in times of tragedy we should somehow be exempt from daily life. I need to teach about antecedents right now? Really? What does it matter? What matters is that all that concrete is lifted off the people. What matters is that families receive back their loved ones.

But I am here, and today I must carry on with the responsibilities I have. But I must send my prayers there. I can pray for strength for the rescue workers, fortitude for those who are trapped, hope for the families who wait.

I will pray, I will watch, and I will wait.