This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent, and the start of a new church year. I find that an interesting juxtaposition – ending a calendar year and starting a church year at the same time…
I personally love Advent. It’s one of my favorite spiritual seasons. I have always been taken with the idea of incarnation. It is a concept that I think we can never fully plumb the depths of. I love contemplating the incarnation every Advent, but I also love tying that contemplation to how we live as Christ-followers. What does living incarnationally look like for us, as we follow Him? How do you “put flesh” on the image and character of God as you live out your daily life? How do you show God-like-ness to those around you on a daily basis? How do you “become like” those you serve in Kingdom-work?
There are so many paradoxes and juxtapostions in this Advent season. Ruth Haley Barton talks about some of them in her special Advent podcast, which you can listen to here. She particularly focuses on the concept of “light” coming into the “darkness.” I encourage you to take 30 minutes this weekend to listen to the podcast. She even has some practical spiritual practices to help you fully lean into Advent this year.
I would appreciate your prayers for me today and this weekend. I leave for Sierra Leone this afternoon (Friday) and will arrive late Saturday evening in Sierra Leone. Jackie will be meeting me in Sierra Leone, coming from the Theology of Disability training she is conducting in India. It’s been a challenging training, with a lot of interesting nuances for them as they navigate a Hindu culture where persecution of Christians is common. Our 2 weeks in Sierra Leone will be busy and encompass a lot of time on the roads – my least favorite activity in Sierra Leone! We will be out to Kamakwie and areas surrounding Makeni more than we will be in Makeni – which will be a different dynamic. And we will be attending 3 of the 4 Christmas parties that are being held for the over 800 women in the program. Please pray that the idea of a God who comes to us, to dwell with us, will be communicated clearly to them this Christmas, and will begin to soften and draw their hearts to Him.
Blessings on you as you draw near to Him, in anticipation of His drawing near to us at Christmas,
Kim