While we wait, we prepare.
This last Sunday's Advent readings have a lot to say about houses. There is an over-arching sense of preparation; getting our "house" prepared for what is to come.
We love having people over at our house. My wife is an incredible cook and we really enjoy getting to know others over meals in our home. But with three kids and a busy schedule, whenever we do host people we usually spend a couple hours cleaning up the messes we've spent all week making around the house! While we wait for our guests, we prepare for them. But sometimes when we rush and fuss over things we find it difficult to unwind, decompress and really present to our guests once they arrive. Have we then prepared appropriately?
The scripture readings seem to allude to something like this as well. We are to be making things ready for the arrival of the King. Yet, in our anticipation do we prepare the right things in the right way? All throughout these reflections, I've pointed out that the (un)King comes in unexpected ways, in unexpected places. This naturally means that Christ comes with hopes different than what we may have anticipated. Does he come looking for splendor and magnanimous reception. Nope. Read the story as told in Luke 2.8-18. His Father brings those things to the party. Not us. Rather, he comes to those that have prepared through the practice of humility and availability. Maybe not intentionally or desired. Certainly, shepherds probably would've preferred less humble and mind-numbing work. But these are who had prepared, who were ready.
What does preparing our "house" mean, then? Maybe it means we cease comparing ourselves, our house, to everyone else's and be the house of our own that we are. Throughout these Advent readings from Sunday, scripture does not concern or compare itself with other houses. Rather, it is concerned with preparing the home through which God will commune with his people. In a rushed and hurried culture, in an even more frenzied season, maybe it means we slow down, make space and practice availability. Maybe it is then that we will truly be able to notice, to appreciate, the coming of the King we await.
In your anticipation this week, practice availability and see how God arrives.
Below is the first track to be released from the upcoming Sleigh Bells album Born To Lose. What do you think? Our house is divided. The first Sleigh Bells album had us all hooked; a family fav'. Paige and I aren't that into this track and hope the sophmore release has a lot more to show. Matt likes it but he admits to just liking it because its Sleigh Bells. Paige and I think he likes it because of how "metal" the track is... and Matt's a complete hessian-in-training.
There’s something to be learned from the Occupy Movement for people in leadership across organizational types and sizes. There is something about this movement that speaks to postmodern milieu of the West. But it is not limited to the west at all. Indeed, the occupy movement certainly derives some inspiration from the Arab Spring, as well as what we’ve seen online through groups such ‘anonymous.’ The way we organize is changing. What I’ve referenced to above may be drastic examples. Still, leaders ought to pay attention to them and what they say about leading organizations of the future.
Some further thoughts of mine on the Occupy Movement can be found in this excerpt from my latest contribution to the Don'tBeSheep.com blog. Read the rest here.
Read my initial post on #occupy here.
Radiohead and Spotify are busy teaching us that, as consumers, we aren't responsible for compensating our artists. In fact, we're being conditioned to feel inherently entitled to the fruits of their labor.
Interesting article on the impact of de-commodification of music.
What do you think?
NOTE: Sorry for being 24 hours late this week. Yesterday was... full.
Like most of the passages read during Advent, there is something about them that says, "Something good is coming!" Indeed, that is certainly the case. But He who is to come, comes in the most unexpected of ways. And He comes with expectations upon us that often are unexpected as well.
One of the readings this week is from Psalm 126. It cries out for restoration. Restoration of what, though? The psalm longs for the restoration of fortunes. Uh oh. Is this some kind of "health and wealth gospel" nonsense? Are the people of Israel, in this prayer, asking God to secure a certain lifestyle for themselves?
I don't think so.
In verses five and six it reads, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." This psalm is prayed by a people longing for basic sustenance. They walk with seeds out to the fields prepared for famine. But they long to feed their people.
This isn't an individual thing. This is a communal thing. Those who prayer this long for the sustenance of their people, not just themselves. But while the need is for the whole, it is neither the whole nor the individual that provides what it is needed. This prayer (for that is what this psalm is) is prayed next to the reading of Isaiah 64 in which God brings justice to the weak and broken. (Jesus would later read this same passage from Isaiah in a synagogue to commence his ministry.)
The people of God, here, realize that they cannot bring the restoration needed on their own. Only God can. Certainly, they are to participate in his justice, his mercy, his restoration. But they know that it cannot be done without God.
Thus, in the end, Advent is about a kind of waiting that is reflected in how we live. We Christians do not seek our own benefit, we consider--and prayer for--the whole. And this is reflected in how we live. Our fortune are not for the benefit of one but for the sustenance of the whole. In so doing, we reflect our hope. A hope in a Savior that will restore all things and not just the little we can do in our life time.
So, this Advent may your waiting be reflected in your living... in your lifestyle.
