"So lay your head on borrowed hay, sleeping Adonai. Light the world then light my way, sleeping Adonai." Those lyrics from a wonderful Christmas musical written by Heather Sorenson that our church choir performed this past Sunday morning. That particular song was meant to be sung as a lullaby. It was that for sure, but the simple words above that drew the song to a close seemed to stick with me. They brought to mind the image of a simple, peasant couple laying their newly born infant in a feeding trough because that's all they could find. That just seems to hammer home (albeit very gently) the point God was making by subjecting Jesus to the full experience of his once perfect, now flawed creation. Hardly any Christmas Eve of celebration would feel complete if you didn't sing "Silent Night". Yet, especially for that travel-weary family, the night was anything but silent. We can only imagine the complaining the animals offered when their little cave stable was invaded. And, despite what some paintings and songs may have portrayed, the Baby came into the world crying as almost every baby does. Of course, just as Mary got him settled down, a bunch of shepherds come in out of breath and rambling about having met some angels face-to-face. None of this even considers that drummer boy and his drum ... sorry, couldn't resist. My point is, the night was definitely holy and most likely far from silent because that's how the world is - noisy and a bit disorganized most of the time. Yet that was the time and place that met whatever criteria God had in mind for the "fullness" and we are forever the beneficiaries. The Crooked Path pauses once again at the manger scene, choosing not to rush away, but rather to linger in awe and wonder at what God gave. My Divine Brother preceded me in every way - and entered this world without any political or royal fanfare. In tribute of that, I leave you with the following two songs. One ponders the question of our King subjecting himself to being a subject. The other reaffirms the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of my advent wreath by declaring Messiah is born and "All is Well". Merry Christmas from the Crooked Path to your house. May your pausing at Jesus' coming bring you much comfort and joy this year, especially in the midst of a rather troubling world. "How Many Kings" by Downhere
"All is Well" by Carrie Underwood and Michael W. Smith
I'm a day later "lighting" this candle than the previous three. But the reason for the delay is well worth it because it has everything to do with this week's theme of Love. I was with my extended family for a very special, if not difficult time as we celebrated my brother Steve's life. Love for family was definitely very present during the weekend and evident through the laughter and tears. Advent season is holds a very special place in my heart. I enjoy the progression of the weeks through the candles for Hope, Peace, Joy and now Love. As I've pondered them, they've grown deeper for me and caused me to reflect more on the entrance of God into humanity. I find it's a subject we've often glossed over in my past and it makes me want to pause and linger at the manger. The memory of my own family, gathered to celebrate a life lived and lost, adds even more depth to the Love given that night so long ago. Before love can be reflected out to anyone else, it must be received and embraced on a personal level. It has to engage our hearts so we grasp how deep the Love represented by this fourth candle is. And it's rooted in the kind of family bonds that just can't be broken. Love came down as part of God's master plan to enter humanity and rescue his family. That's what I see when I light this candle. That's what I experienced when we gathered to remember my brother. The Crooked Path is grounded in Love like no other. It's rarely as easy or pleasant as we wish, but it sits on Love and leads to Love. It gathers the Hope, Peace and Joy that sustains us and carries us to the best part ... the Love that knows no boundaries or limits. May your Advent Wreath burn brightly as you anticipate the arrival of Love this year.
It's a bit ironic (again) that a week filled with so much "stuff" is one marked for the rose-colored candle of Joy. Yet, we still did end the week on a joyful note. This marked our annual trip to work at the Operation Christmas Child distribution center doing the final packaging of shoe boxes as they head out around the glob to the arms of waiting children. The boxes we packed will be off to the Ukraine. We send them with the anticipation they will be received with joy. Our Hope leads to Peace which brings Joy - all of it in anticipation of this celebration of Advent. Yet, in my family and many others, the shadows of death and sickness seem to loom large. While none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, some close to us do seem to be slipping almost daily. The thin strand of what passes for life in this world stretches more for some than others, and if we don't look to something greater than ourselves, we may find despair swoops in and takes over. But Joy doesn't have to be elusive or "for somebody else". Joy can be found in the simplest of what life offers and, when you truly find Life in the fullest sense, Joy will well up the same way Hope and Peace do. It's just a matter of knowing where to look and finding the One you can trust completely. So as this third candle is lit, we remember prophets of old who looked forward with great anticipation even in the midst of difficulty and found, at the center of it all, a deep sense of Joy. The Crooked Path always winds by the stable this time of year. And, if we let our spirits focus there, we will find a Joy that surpasses everything else and shines brightly in our hearts, reflecting out into a dark world desperately in need of Someone.
It seems very odd to write about the Candle of Peace given what our country has seen lately. There are times I admit I shake my head and wonder what has happened. And then pile all the noise on top of that - news headlines, political grandstanding and everyone grabbing their "15 minutes" as many times as they can. It's just plain nuts and it makes me very tired. But above and beyond all that, I can still grasp Peace because of the Hope we talked about when we lit the first candle. Peace doesn't mean things are calm or there is no fear. I was reminded of the famous FDR quote about "nothing to fear but fear itself" when a friend posted something about it. Reading the whole quote, I took it to mean he was talking about panic or dread. Peace, in that context, is the opposite of dread. Built on Hope it says, "What you are experiencing isn't the end of all things. There is something more - something bigger than yourself." That, at least to me is Peace. And I find it again this time of year as we prepare to celebrate the Advent of the Prince of Peace. The Crooked Path will often be noisy and dangerous. But it will always be paved with Peace if I know where to look for it and trust the Giver of Peace. Hope and Peace ... two foundational building blocks of Advent and life.
