Does it feel like Advent to you?
Although we are in the midst of spring with summer just around the corner, it seems like Advent to me. Advent is a time of waiting and preparation, of going into an unknown future while placing our trust in God’s guidance. The promise of Advent is that God is “Emmanuel,” always with us.
As I prepare for my retirement, my congregation is preparing for a future with a (yet unknown) new minister. After June 16th, my congregation and I will be on separate journeys. After sharing our lives, work, and worship together for over 36 years, we will be on different paths. I will venture into retirement and the congregation will continue their ministry with new leadership. None of us can know what the future holds. This is always true – but with a particular date in mind, it becomes even more apparent.
We can trust that God is in the midst of all of these changes and offering guidance, strength, and direction. We remember God’s promise that God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Trying to plan for an unknown future reminds me of anticipating parenthood before any baby was born. Before I had children, I had lots of ideas (and ideals) and envisioned myself as a source of wisdom with boundless patience, someone who would offer delicious home cooked meals after afternoons of craft time and outdoor adventures. The reality, not surprisingly, was somewhat different. Life was often chaotic. I often lost my patience. There were meals on the table, but Julia Child was not threatened by my cooking skills.
It all worked out, but it was not what I expected.
We just can’t know ahead of time what challenges await us. Our paths will take unexpected twists and turns. The promise of Advent – that season of watching and wondering as we enter the unknown – is that God does not change. God is steadfast even as our world shifts and evolves. God will be with us wherever the journey leads.
We will undoubtedly be surprised at what we learn and experience along the way. We will be invited to try new ways of doing things and to experiment with different ways of being. Step by step and day by day, we are invited to notice how God is weaving in and through our lives.
Along the way we can be intentional about being grateful – notice the blessings that God places in our lives. We can give thanks that God is with us and rejoice that we are not alone on this journey.
Where will we all end up? Just like Mary and Joseph, we cannot discern the entire path. But also like them, we can look for signs and wonders, we can be open to visitors and strangers who bring us good news of a God who loves us, and we can trust that God is leading us into new ways of serving and celebrating God.
And through it all, let’s keep one another in our prayers.