Greetings One and all, ‘Today I will look for one small sign that God is present in my daily life. I will give thanks for his presence. If he is absent, I will resolve to find out why.’ (Henri J.M. Nouwen; Advent and Christmas, p.1)
Advent typically is a time for preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Traditionally we sing Advent carols in Advent and Christmas carols thereafter. Tradition governs much of the lead-up to Christmas or as they say,
so annoyingly on the telly,‘ the big day’ – oh dear! Henri Nouwen is right, Advent is a really good time once again to focus on finding God. In all the busyness of life, particularly the rush of pre-Christmas festivities, where is God? Is God there in the Christmas parties; in the aisles of the supermarkets; in the depths of the Black Friday deals? Where is God? God is there, even though the commercialism of the season does try its hardest to disguise God in plain sight. God is there if we are prepared for an encounter. The poet-theologian R.S.Thomas takes us on a journey of ‘Frequencies’ where the landscape of the Advent God are signalled and rendered new. You don’t have to be a poet to make these discoveries, the Advent God is there Sunday by Sunday in the Advent readings, the Advent candle liturgies and in the hymnody. God is there waiting for us in the landscape of our everyday lives. The everyday Advent God asks us to find out more about how God wants us to discover something new about the nature of God. To be surprised that God is there as we load the dishwasher, walk the dog, at school or at work, at home or elsewhere. The where and why of the Advent God is a true gift, for it is in searching for our God that the little things of God resonate deeply with our living. God you are there at my
best and when I am foul; you are there when I am low and when I am full; Advent God you are there when I can’t find you and think you’ve vanished. You are there in my need and there when that’s all I need to know, a breath away, a heartbeat. You are the enduring melody. May Advent be a time of good preparation for Christmas, tuned into the frequencies of God which reveals, so clearly, that love bade us welcome in the gift of Christ. Ah
yes, in Christ, there you are!
Every blessing,
Simon
