This Advent season I've been pondering these words from Henri Nouwen's The Genesee Diary:
"The expectation of Advent is anchored in the event of God's incarnation. The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come. The Gospel not only reminds me of what took place but also of what will take place. In the contemplation of Christ's first coming, I can discover the signs of his second coming. By looking back in meditation, I can look forward in expectation. By reflection, I can project; by conserving the memory of Christ's birth , I can progress to the fulfillment of his kingdom. I am struck by the fact that the prophets speaking of the future of Israel always kept reminding their people of God's great works in the past. They could look forward with confidence because they could look backward with awe to Yahweh's great deeds."
"I pray that Advent will offer me the opportunity to deepen my memory of God's great deeds in time and will set me free to look forward with courage to the fulfillment of time by him who came and is still to come." ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
Our Christmas celebration at home has been greatly simplified this year due to schedule constraints. This has opened up a simpler season of focus on Christ's coming, surrounding our Advent Wreath and some readings to the kids. At one level I've always been in a state of "waiting" due to chronic pain. Even now, for instance, I am "waiting" to get through an aggravated shoulder injury that is keeping me off the computer (my husband is being my secretary by typing this as I dictate!)
And it's hit me that this is the mindset that has always been in Scripture. Old Testament Jews had to wait for Messiah - to just sit there and suffer until he came, That's what made his first advent so meaningful for them. And New Testament Christians are also waiting for him to return again, to set all things right and remake the world. I find myself waiting for him to come create that New Earth in which pain will be only a distant memory.
And so, as God's f0llowers always have, we wait for Jesus to save us.
"I pray that Advent will offer me the opportunity to deepen my memory of God's great deeds in time and will set me free to look forward with courage to the fulfillment of time by him who came and is still to come." ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen
Our Christmas celebration at home has been greatly simplified this year due to schedule constraints. This has opened up a simpler season of focus on Christ's coming, surrounding our Advent Wreath and some readings to the kids. At one level I've always been in a state of "waiting" due to chronic pain. Even now, for instance, I am "waiting" to get through an aggravated shoulder injury that is keeping me off the computer (my husband is being my secretary by typing this as I dictate!)
And it's hit me that this is the mindset that has always been in Scripture. Old Testament Jews had to wait for Messiah - to just sit there and suffer until he came, That's what made his first advent so meaningful for them. And New Testament Christians are also waiting for him to return again, to set all things right and remake the world. I find myself waiting for him to come create that New Earth in which pain will be only a distant memory.
And so, as God's f0llowers always have, we wait for Jesus to save us.
6 comments:
Amy,
That's what I've been thinking this week.
Yes, we remember and celebrate His birth.
But let's also consider that He is coming again.
To get us. So that we can be with Him forever.
Thanks for sharing this simple truth that we often overlook.
Sweet dreams.
I am so glad I stopped by this evening. :)
"The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come."
I could re-quote the whole Henri J.M. Nouwen paragraph... I won't
IT's SO True!
...the older I get the more I see the fruitlessness of most of our endeavors here -- and the utmost importance of all that Scripture brings to us so clearly if we just would read it! And meditate upon it!
It's not an easy place to be when raising young children who simply aren't there spiritually or emotionally, but surely they are growing up with a very very Eternity-centered World view.
Thank you for your always-poignant thoughts...
Blessings to you!
~esthermay
Amy, thank you for sharing this very thoughtful quote by Henri Nouwen. His words always make me stop and meditate.
I am so sorry to hear about your shoulder. I truly hope you soon feel better.
As I have mentioned before, I live with chronic pain. I fight it so much, but lately, I have been asking the Lord to teach me through it.
The Lord has so much to give if only I will receive. But it is very difficult sometimes.
Blessings to you, my dear friend. I hope your Sunday is awesome!!!
Andrea
Dear friend,
Reading this post stirred up my heart and filled it with hope for what is indeed waiting for us.
I love Henri Nouwen, as you know he is my favorite author. His words always strike me in a deep way. He knows what life is all about.
And for me, the best Christmas celebration is the simplest kind - quiet, meaningful, so full of love. Not too frilly or materialistic. I love Christmas celebrations when it points us to the Savior, and our coming full redemption of which you also wrote.
Praying with you as you WAIT with a sense of joyful expectation for our eternal home.
This post ties in beautifully with the end of November post that I have just written! It is not a coincidence. We are just being spoken to by the same Spirit.
May the joy of the Lord be your strength this season.
Much love
Lidj
Dear Amy,
Thank you for visiting my blog again, and sharing that song by Joni Earickson Tada.
I would love to hear more of what she has to say about tears being our jewels! Thank you for leaving the link. I will take time to visit it!
Thinking of and praying often for you.
Love
Lidj
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