Season of Advent

 

The Psalmist cries out to God, remembering all the times he has felt the presence of God, and wondering, where is God now? Now when he is in distress, when evil and darkness are all around, where is God? Is God listening? Is God listening to families praying for a peaceful future for their children? Is God listening to children living in refugee camps? Is God listening to people without shelter, or heat, or even blankets during this brutal winter storm?

 

As believers we respond, "Yes, of course! God is always listening." Even in our deepest despair, as we rant and weep and gnash our teeth, God listens. The psalmist knows this, and implores his soul to have hope and to trust. I would add this: to listen. So often when we anguish, despair, and curse, when we feel that God is not listening and is not with us, it is ourselves who are not listening and who are not present to God.

 

This is not an easy pill to swallow. God is all powerful and merciful and loves us, right?! So why can't God just fix it? Maybe there is more to it. Maybe we need to do some work too. Maybe God is waiting for us to pitch in and be willing to work with God. In order to work toward God's reign on earth, in order to work with God, we must first listen to God. We must make ourselves vulnerable, allow God's presence to seep into our lives, welcome God's voice into our consciousness.

 

As an effort in my own spiritual discipline, I have taken up the practice of the Daily Examen: an Ignatian form of prayer in which one acknowledges the presence of God while looking back at the day. Seems rather simple, and appealing to my introspective nature, but I am not finding it easy. Many days I come home tired from a day of work and commute. I allow myself the distraction of TV or computer. I fall into my bed am asleep before I manage to recognize the presence of God. It is hard work allowing ourselves to trust so deeply in an intimately present God, because we are so good at relying on ourselves. But we cannot fix the world on our own any more than God will swoop in and solve all our problems with superhero powers.

 

When we work in partnership with God, we find our calling, and we live most fully into Creation. God was creator in the beginning, Emmanuel at Jesus' birth, and present even now. God wants "Peace on earth, goodwill to all men," even more than we do. So, just as we welcome the Christ child into the world on Christmas morning, we need to welcome God into our lives daily. By doing so, we will probably welcome much more into our lives: the poor, the sick, the lonely, as well as thanksgiving, joy, and peace.

 

-Abby