And God said, "Let us make humanity in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. " ~ Genesis 1:26 Have you seen God today? Well, at least a likeness, or similar image, or maybe a shadow?
We are the embodiment of the Creator. Today you can find nearly 7 billion examples of what God looks like. No kidding! As for me, I know when I look in the mirror there are things I like, as well as, things I don't. It's funny, the older I get, I recognize different members of my family looking back at me in the mirror. I see both my mother and father. It doesn't stop there. My hands and my build. My posture even is similar to an uncle. Everywhere I look I see "someone else" that makes up who I am. I am the blended image of every person that has lived before me, and if you look close enough, there is the original that God fashioned from clay and breathed life into! Despite our differences, we cannot deny that we all have been created in the image of God. Innately we all not only look like the image of God, but the heart of God also dwells in each of us. Have you ever thought about that? I will admit that in my life experiences I have met people that I immediately knew their heart. There are those people that cannot contain the love of God, and it must be shared. However, I have met those who are absolutely empty and dark. In those cases I see the image, but then I wonder what it is that seems to be missing. I can't explain why that is. I find it even harder when the actions of those created in the same image of the Creator find it necessary to manipulate, declare, and segregate the very creation that once was declared "good." Our world is full of many things, but one thing I wish we would recognize is that we are ALL brothers and sisters, created by ONE who absolutely believes we ALL have a right to be here! I am reminded during this season of Advent, that God sent a child, who looked like us, so that we ALL, not just in our likeness of image, but so that we ALL may find life... We are all created in God's image... may our lives reflect that image each day. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019
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The angel shared with Mary, "Fear not, for God has found favor with you." ~ Luke 1:30 There is something about this time in Advent that I begin to think about two women. The young Mary, and the older Elizabeth, both expecting babies, bringing both excitement and uncertainty.
For both women, it was going to be the first time they had delivered a child. Spending time together and sharing their thoughts about God's plan at this time in their life surely must have been interesting. In many ways, Elizabeth giving birth first would help Mary to understand more about what to expect in childbirth. Elizabeth, in her years, watched many children come into the world, and grow up. But for her, this was something she had never experienced before. Mary, a young girl, the immaculate conception had to be extremely frightening within itself. Even she asks the angel, "How can this be so?" Both learn they are to give birth through messages brought by an angel. We don't hear of God delivering messages by angels much these days. In many ways, we have been given the task of proclaiming the words, "Fear not!" to one another. Twenty years ago I can remember preparing to graduate from seminary and clearly praying for God to let me know what was next on my journey. I sure could have used an angel to provide the words I needed to hear. Struggling as a single parent at one point in my life, I can remember turning to God and asking, "I wish you would send me a message." I have to ask, what would you do if an angel appeared and offered these words to you, "Fear not!" Just because an angel doesn't appear with a proclamation doesn't mean that we are not on God's radar. For most of us, it just means that we need to learn to wait a little longer! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” ~ Luke 1:30 The apostle Paul, through all of his life-encounters, encouraged others to "Have joy." While I am not Paul, I would suspect that with all the things going on in the world today, he might have also added, "Have faith as well."
Let's face it, the world that surrounds us today can be pretty unpredictable. Not only that, it seems that this time of year with the holidays, I seem to be encountering more people expressing their deep anxieties. So often I hear these words, "God is just trying to test me." I'm unsure if any of us have ever fully studied, "the right" materials for some of these so-called, "tests!" Faith is something that we simply can turn to when we have these encounters. I am reminded that we may not always find ourselves as faithful as we could be, God, on the other hand, is faithful to us. In the season of Advent, we often hear that we await the, "Long expected Jesus." In our waiting, we are also turning to our faith to embrace the faith that we need for each moment of our life. Not just during the season of Advent, but throughout our whole life. Faith is something that allows us to discover peace and joy, which are cornerstones of God's Kingdom. We hold the promises of God, as God remains faithful to each of us, even when we find ourselves questioning ourselves, or allow for doubt or fear. Paul reminds us, "Our hope is not deceptive because the Holy Spirit has already been poured into us." We are simply never alone. Remember, even the smallest speck of faith, like that of a mustard seed, is sufficient to help us through all that we may encounter. Have faith while you remain in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ~ Luke 2:10 I am reminded that Christ came, "Not into the world to condemn the world, but to save it." (John 3:17)
In our endeavors to journey through Advent, we are brought face to face with the world that we live in today. It seems that we know so much about suffering, and sometimes we wonder if the child that came to us all those years ago has withdrawn himself? I am reminded that we are to allow for hope to dwell in us. We have become that hope in a world that seems to struggle with the reminder that we are to affirm one another on this journey, and to be bearers of the message of "Joy and good tidings," even in the face of adversity, fear, pain, and brokenness. Today the message still rings true, Christ indeed has come! God has not withdrawn! God sent Jesus to share in our human condition and Jesus sent us His Spirit to lead us into a hope-filled relationship! It is in the midst of living in, but not of the world, where we can be vessels of that Spirit, to make Christ visible, not just during Advent, but with each new day! It is in these moments that we can then point to where Christ is! Christ lives in us! "Behold, I bring you great tidings of joy!" Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 I live in a high and holy place, but also with [the one] who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. ~ Isaiah 57:15 For over fifty Christmas seasons, this ornament has hung somewhere on our Christmas tree. As a child, I remember placing it on different lights just to see how the colors might reflect from within. As I did, I imagined what the star of Bethlehem must have really looked like. I suppose that this ornament was among the first things that represented Jesus' birth in my life. It was something that I could see, as well as, touch. It was something that as a child I could hold in my hands.
As an adult, I still see this ornament through the eyes of a child, but now I think more about what it means for Jesus to be the incarnation of God among us. It reminds me that God's journey in Jesus was both vulnerable and small. He was dependent upon those around him, just as I was as the child that once held this ornament and pondered what it must have been like to have been born in such an obscure place. Years ago while working with the homeless on the streets of Houston, I was reminded time and time again that God exists among the poor, the hungry, those who are weak, powerless, and mentally ill. Today I wonder how it is that we are called to know who God is when our focus is often elsewhere? Eight-second sound bytes, the next "Breaking News," headline, political unrest, as the rich seem to find ways to become richer, and children are separated and caged to protect our society. I am reminded that our faithfulness depends on our willingness to be with those who are different than us, those who are broken, lonely, and are vulnerable. In many ways, this small ornament that I treasured as a child, and now focus on as an adult, is the beginning of the journey of Christ within me. That as I searched my mind to understand who Jesus was as a child, I now search for ways to make him known in my life, and to share him with others. To live and to grow in belief, while seeking friendships where we can support one another in our journey to Christ together. In many ways, in order for us to grow, we must invite ourselves to stay close to the small, vulnerable child that lives in our hearts and within one another. As I stare at this ornament, depicting the birth of Jesus, I realize that this image also exists within me. Christ is still a child within me. To this I can begin to speak these words, "Rejoice! Rejoice!" Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ~ Luke 2:6 -7 It's a much colder and rainy day here along the Gulf this morning. The sound of water pouring from downspouts and a mourning dove somewhere in the tree next door reminds me that mornings like these don't happen very often. I could easily have surrendered my day to another hour of rest, but time has forced it's hand, and I can't gamble with traffic and road conditions, so I must get going.
I took a moment while on the patio, taking in all of these things, when I suddenly had the thought that this is why God entered the womb of a young Hebrew girl. That mornings like these remind me that God's divine presence can be found in humbling ways. I realize that somewhere in the world, maybe even down the street, there are still those people who see this as "just another day," busy planning meetings, striving to crash through some new glass ceiling, and perhaps, get that promotion. But then there is God, in the simple droplets of rain that have gathered on the leaf that will soon fade and become a memory. I am reminded that this is the way of Jesus. Through simple appearances, powerless, and sometimes hidden away. I am reminded that that within winter, there is the promise of spring. Within the smallness of a barn, where straw from summer grasses lay, new life would emerge, that would still have implications today. Entering into communion with Jesus will always lead us to unexpected places. In humbleness and simple moments, Jesus overwhelms us, and he is known. It's mornings like these that I am reminded that he is also called, "Emmanuel," God with us. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ~ Psalm 91:11 Last night during our Advent Study we talked about "Mary's song." We talked about what it must have been like to have encountered the angel, Gabriel, and what it must have been like to hear the words, "God has found favor with you!"
We wondered about what she must have thought, and how she then shared the news with her family, and Joseph. Fortunately, the angel visits Joseph in a dream and tells him, "Do not be afraid," and continues to tell him God's plan for Mary, and all humanity as well. I remember years ago when both our children were born, and the "birthing plan," that we created for each child. No where did we insert a message from an angel! In many ways the angel brought both comforting news, and a life-changing announcement. I've often wondered what message an angel might bring today. How the words, "Fear not!" might be perceived in a world where "Likes" and "Emoji's" seem to impact our responses. In many ways, we must become the messenger. Our words are not so much to "Fear not," but to "Have hope!" and "Love one another!" I am reminded that celebrations are rooted deep in the Kingdom of God. Finding favor, changing lives and bringing God's children into a better place are still the fundamental principles of faith. That somehow two-thousand years later, in a world where an event can be catapulted around the world in a matter of seconds, the events of long ago still move within us. The words of the angels to the shepherds, "Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people!" still echo among the heavens, in a place where angels are common. You and I are still part of those words! You and I are still the reason that Gabriel visited a young Hebrew girl, and a man who would be invited to raise the boy that we would all know to be our Savior, Jesus. Let that angels speak! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7 Someone recently asked me what peace was to me? I answered, "Peace is when the silence overwhelms all the noise."
I don't think that is what the person was really asking, because she then refocused the question and asked me again, "Todd, what does it mean to have peace in your life?" It's something that we all want. I guess I needed to refrain my response. Perhaps I should have said, "Real peace is when God overwhelms all the circumstances of my life and of the lives of those around me." I am reminded of Jesus' words, "In this world you will have troubles but be brave: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Every time we allow for Christ to overcome the things in this world, we then understand how peace can exist. It is so important for the people around us to see that peace of Christ reflected in our eyes, our hands, and our words. May the peace of Christ overwhelm every obstacle, every doubt, every problem you may encounter. Remember, Christ has overcome the world, and we are invited to live in this peace! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." ~ Isaiah 25:9 I was thinking back about some of the patients I have been with as they have stepped from this life into eternity.
I won't forget one amazing woman, early 50's, with six children surrounding her, dying of cancer. Her smile, and the smiles of her children were one. A deep faith had been instilled, and even the youngest, nine years old, talked of heaven as a real and tangible place. Their mother had gone to a 24 hour clinic to get something for a nagging cough. No insurance. No well-woman check ups. If one of the children got sick, they received care immediately. She was their mother, and put herself second, third or sixth, always. She came out of the clinic with a terminal diagnosis. All would tell her it was, "too late." Within two months I was beside her as she made her way to heaven. While she traveled between earth and heaven, she would wake enough to say something. "Remember to love each other," she told her children. "There is nothing so bad that you can't talk to one another." "Do well in school." "Remember to respect others." The last words of a mother would have lasting effects. She looked at me and shared, "And I have found the perfect park bench that we will sit and talk about this day in heaven." I thought of what she must be seeing as she looked past me, but spoke to me. "I love the thought of heaven, and can't wait, but I hope I have more time here." She responded, "You know something wonderful about heaven? There is no time." "That would be heaven," I remarked. Within the hour she had gone. We sang songs and prayed in her dying moments. Her passing made me realize that there is no "after life." There is nothing that holds us to such words as before or after in a place that has always existed, and that will continue to exist. Our ability to embrace the heavenly eternity is held within the boundaries we have created known as time. What a blessing to know that there is a place where we will no longer know age, and be touched by the hands of time. Death frees us from the boundaries of chronology and brings us into God's "time," which is timeless. For us living within the spectrum of time, we must have faith and trust that the life awaiting us in Christ is real. God's heart and mind are greater than ours, and that includes the ability to create a timeless place for us to dwell. How do we measure time..."in daylight, in sunsets, in midnights, cups of coffee..." (from Rent) Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ~ Luke 2:19 Advent is anchored in the incarnation of God.
While for many of us, the past is something that we either embrace or try to forget. The more I encounter God's incarnation in Advent, the more I realize the importance of this appearance. We are resurrected people living beyond the tomb, however, the Gospel not only reminds us of what took place all those years ago, but also of what will take place in the future. In the unexpectedness of Jesus first appearing among the people, as angels announced, and a star proclaimed, I hope that I can begin to understand of what it will be like when he once again returns. While I ponder, I can't help but realize that we have become the initial moments of his return, as we become the embodiment of Jesus among us. By looking back, we can also look forward in expectation! We are both part of the memory of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, and the future of his return in fulfillment of his kingdom! I try each day to remember the amazing acts of Jesus among God's people years ago, as I look to the acts of God's people today. Sometimes I am met with great joy, and other times, with disappointment. I am reminded that I am to look forward in confidence. We are to believe in God for greater things, and that because of Jesus' first coming, our anticipation for his return can be met with our own actions. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." ~ Hebrews 12:15 While serving as a chaplain, so many of my visits with families and patients are focused on the subject of mortality.
One of the greatest gifts we can offer any person is helping them to die well. Our mortality is something that we all must deal with. The moment we take our first breath, our journey begins. It is inevitable. While it is our own personal journey, friends and family can often influence that journey. There is a moment in which we need to honor that journey. Our journeys begin and end with God. Being present and honoring that journey can be among the greatest gifts we can provide for one another. When Jesus died he said: "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit" (Luke 23:46). These words are important for not just us, but can be important for us to share with those who's journey is coming to an end. With these words on their lips or in their hearts, they can make the passage as Jesus did. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6 Before Jesus called his Disciples to "follow him," he first had to learn to walk and follow Joseph and Mary.
Scripture doesn't include much about the early years of Jesus' life. We know that he is born in a stable surrounded by animals, travels with his parents to Egypt where they assume daily life. Then he appears in the Temple, teaching those present, as a youngster, when he runs off from his family. It's not that I want to know what he was like as a child. Did he struggle to learn how to walk? Was he afraid of the dark? Did he fall and hurt himself, run to his mother, and did she kiss away the pain? The stories of parents and their children in scripture are varied. Abraham invites his son Isaac to go for a walk and nearly sacrifices him. A young Joseph is the eyes of his father, reporting all the things his brothers are doing, and ends up being in trouble with his brothers. Moses gets placed in a basket and set adrift in the Nile. Mary, a young girl is told she will give birth to the Savior, and delivers him in a barn. Let's face it, early childhood stories in the Bible would lead to years of therapy for those involved! The early years of the Messiah and the earthly lessons Joseph surely taught have more than likely influenced each of us and our faith. The very prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, may very well begun with Joseph turning to his son and saying, "Now Jesus, when you pray, begin by saying, 'Our father, which abides in heaven.'" There are many things I say today that didn't begin with me, or for that matter, didn't begin with my dad. We build upon the lessons of our fathers and mothers. Jesus, like all of us, discovered the hands that would touch the hearts of humanity. He discovered feet, that he would stand on, and walk dusty roads, calling to others to "follow him." He would cry, laugh, and learn parables that would cause a tax collector to change, not just his name, but his life. He would make friends, and when one, very close to him would die, he would call him by name, and from a dark tomb, wrapped in clothes for the dead, would walk into the sunlight. The infant who brought the light of the world into existence would learn the lessons we all would have to learn. I wonder what Jesus' first words were? When the young Hebrew girl learned of her favor with the Lord, she sang. What lullabies did she sing, as she rocked her baby when storms raged? Before the man walked with others, he walked as a child with his earthly father. As a child, I marched behind a high school band as my dad lead as a band director. I sat in choir rehearsals where my dad directed singers in church. I remember times that his hands held mine, and times when a hard lesson involved those hands spanking me. I've heard it said that children by the time they are three have lived through the most formative years. The most formative years of the life of Christ are left to us for discernment. Like many families with newborns, a time of change was encountered. How difficult it must have been to be illegal immigrants in a foreign land while nurturing the son of God? These are the unknown moments, the lessons, and the times when parents turn to God for answers. As an adult I have walked with my dad. This photo is from a day my father walked beside me on the beach of Galveston. I can imagine the two pairs of feet, walking beside one another, along the shore of Galilee. A father or mother with a child. I wonder what it must have been like the first time this family returned to home after their exile? Jesus meeting his Aunt Elizabeth the first time. Did he and his cousin John make mud pies, or play hide and seek in the market? I've often wondered how the boy Jesus responded the day his earthly father, Joseph could no longer walk beside him? Did he struggle to take care of his mother in a society where women required the presence of a man to survive. The experiences we must leave to our imaginations. As a person of faith, I'm left with the stories of the man Jesus. All of which have shaped, not just me, but my life and how I live in this world. And as that person of faith, those missing years are the years when families become families. They are the struggles that all have encountered. Perhaps they were the human years that would invite us to see ourselves in a clearer light? We all were infants, born to learn the same lessons that Christ himself learned. Our challenge is to find ways to take those lessons and live as his example has shown. For unto US has been born a Savior, who learned to walk with a father and a mother. Who came to save us, so that our lives, no matter if walking, crawling, or paralyzed, would know a better way of life. Where peace, love, forgiveness, grace, and the virtues learned from Joseph and Mary years ago shared with a small child, Jesus, can be lived out each day. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ~ Isaiah 40:3 "Is this thing on?"
A common saying we have come to know over the years of what is said when someone walks up to a microphone. Scripture tells us that there will be someone who cries out in the wilderness to "Prepare the way of the Lord." Today the wilderness looks very different. It's not always about geography. It is about people. Today we all know something about the wilderness found in the hearts of humanity. Years ago while working with the homeless on the streets of Houston I created a display called the, "Shadows Project." I would ask people living on the street to lie down on a roll of paper. I would then trace their image onto the paper in turn for a bus token. On the image I would then write their street name, their birth name (if they would share), their age and how long they had been living on the street. I also wanted to know what brought them to this situation. The stories were often heartbreaking. An illness or job loss in the home. For many of the teens living on the street, often the story was associated with their "coming out," story, and their parents "kicking" them out. On the street, pseudo families were created, and often the roles would take that of "mother" or "father." I managed to gather 147 "Shadows" prior to an invitation to attend the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Portland, Oregon. A city that has worked very hard to help it's homeless population. On the General Assembly floor I rolled out the "Shadows" and then sat back and watched. I soon learned that the people treated these images just as most people did the homeless on the street. Some would stop, and read what was written. Some would notice, but turn or walk the other way. Some never bothered to stop, and actually walked right over the image. "This is what the world has come to," I thought. We are asked to prepare a way for the Lord, still today! It's no longer about a curious character named John, wandering in the dessert. It's about you and I and our need to be that pathway so that God can exist in this world, where people who might be living in the shadow of darkness may be able to walk in the light. We are not only that voice today, we are also the pathway! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 God’s 21st Century John by G. Todd Williams Dear Lord, today I thought I heard a voice crying in the wilderness. A prophet’s word, demanding change: “Prepare the way of the Lord; watch for pitfalls, level the ridges, straighten crooked paths and remove the mountains. God’s glory can now be seen, And every eye shall see it!” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! In the wilderness of the world community joined by electronic roads and overshadowed by architectural monuments; Where greed fills sold out leaders, and is lost in great waste. Where a numbered society hides within a work-force, and broken spirits converge through social programs for a moment of respite: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! In the wilderness of third world nations, where the destitute scrape out their existence while great powers amass grand riches; The strong play with the weak, where once-proud cultures conform, Their daughters and sons are robbed of tradition, And placed in sweatshops that provide pennies for their handwork: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! In the wilderness of educational institutions, reading, writing and arithmetic have been traded for survival training, Where young minds absorb everything except how to be children of God, Fertile expansions of their minds, but their souls remain barren; Diplomas proclaim success, not wisdom, Honors, not love; “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! In the wilderness of politics a field of wheat and tares is bordered by momentary fame, Where large interest groups freely support campaigns, And candidates have the nerve to shout reform, While even those with the best of intentions are devoured by dark forces and are compelled to take a back seat until cynicism builds within, like a horrible virus: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! In the wilderness of our faith traditions, where theological trends come and go, Buildings and people are fashionable, and pomp and circumstance are priority. Where evangelism is silenced, prayer and sacrifice are optional and even Jesus is labeled a “fundamentalist.” “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! We cry out to the voice in the wilderness, “What shall we do?” “Run! Turn to the Lord. You who have two suits, give to the naked; You with a feast upon your table, feed my hungry. In the markets and governments, work through compassion – And be ready for the One who comes with fire!” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and glory! The Heavens and earth rejoice! God of all come near! "The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." ~ 1 John 1: 2 I think out of all the gospels, John tends to move me the most. I think it is because it begins with Jesus, the "word becoming flesh." It is significant to me because I hear him saying, "The words of scripture, our faith, and all that we believe, is standing right before us."
John also sees Jesus in intimate moments as well. When he struggles, but also, his face when the blind man opens his eyes to see for the first time, the paralytic taking his first steps, and Lazarus emerging from the dark tomb. John is there and realizes the importance for us to know that this was the Son of God come down to dwell among us. Sometimes I wish that there was more. What was it like to sit under the stars on a cloudless night, staring up at the cosmos, and hearing Jesus say, "And this is what was being thought as the sun was spun into creation and what that first light looked like." We live with the knowledge of a God who is not afraid to become flesh. To enter this world as each of us do as human beings, but yet with a supernatural conception within a young Hebrew girl, who then begins to sing how she shall glorify God. Another intimate moment. Seeing God in intimate moments allows for us to know God's ultimate desire to be present for us. For John, God becomes real. God becomes tangible. He walks dusty roads with him, shares in meals and conversations, and rests under the shade of trees. John tells us, "I have seen him," and "testifies," to the incarnation. Believing in Jesus begins believing in the intimate moments of God, while recognizing the living Christ within each one of us. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31 This morning I have been finishing a sermon that I am to give later today during the funeral for one of my patients who died just over a week ago. As I remembered the day that he asked me to deliver his eulogy, I also thought of him sharing, "I just keep wondering how much longer it will be before God calls me home?"
Once again there is this "thing," about waiting. Sometimes I think that the word Advent should just become the word, "Waiting." The weeks leading up to the Bethlehem story, with churches being decorated, candles being lit each week, and extraordinary efforts being made to invite people to once again hear the words declared by angels, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger," all seem to keep us from remember that we are simply, "Waiting." Advent is the reminder that we cannot do anything but wait. We can be "ready," as the gospel of Matthew invites, but ultimately we are told to "Just wait." Words like that push us into passivity. But Advent is not an invitation to be passive about anything, especially when it comes to our faith. Waiting is something we actively do. Like my patient who was "waiting on God," there was still something that he realized. Even in every moment that he waited, he was one more moment closer to being with God. If we wait in the conviction that a seed has been planted and that something has already begun, it changes the way we wait. Active waiting reminds us that we are present in the moment. I am once again reminded that the next moment may be exactly what I have been waiting for. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2019 |
AuthorRev. G. Todd Williams is the author of the book, "Remember Me When..." and is a former hospice chaplain and pastor. Archives
February 2024
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