“We know that Jesus is always
coming into the world anew. Christmas is more than just an anniversary. It is a
mystery. Each year, something happens, it is not just celebrated”
~Ranerio Cantalmessa
December 2011
Yesterday morning when I sat down to
pray I was surprised to find my heart pouring out Thanksgiving. Most days, when
I pray I feel a sense of heaviness, a sense of absence, of need and lack. Most
days the only prayer I can muster is for mercy. My heart cries out to the Lord
for His mercy – over my heart, over my friends, over our community (immediate
and extended), over Sari Bari, over broken relationships, over injustice, over
a city that often only seems heavy and dark. Most days I see the absence of the
Lord more than His presence. I know he is here, I know the absence is only
perceived. I know that He is faithful, good, loving and present – but seeing
those things requires discipline. What is easy to see, what assaults my senses
from the time I leave my home to the time I return is the Lord’s perceived
absence.
So I slog through – I ask for peace.
I plead for mercy. I ask the Lord for eyes to see His presence in the middle of
a day where it seems impossible that any of those prayers will be answered. But
He is faithful. He does give me eyes
to see His presence – snapshots, windows, moments, fragments, a split second.
They are easy to miss. It’s like I’m building up muscles. Entering into the
discipline of looking for, searching out, scouring the day for moments where I
can celebrate the Lord’s goodness and His presence. And as I live into this
discipline, I see the fruit of it. I see the Lord’s faithfulness. I catch a
glimpse of His mercy. I peak through the window into a heart and life that is
being restored.
Jesus is, indeed, coming anew into the world. Today. Now. Here. In my heart. In my life. In my
community. At Sari Bari. In the middle of a city where at first glance it seems
like all you could possibly see is His absence. He is coming anew. I see Him.
He is meeting me. Holding me. Restoring me. Refining me. Drawing me. He is
coming anew. Rejoice!
I love the advent season. This
season of waiting, of preparing, of anticipating the coming of Emmanuel. While
I have no idea how the Lord will meet me in the midst of Advent and Christmas
this year, I am excited to enter in. To wait.
To sit and yearn, to doubt and wrestle – and ultimately to receive,
because He is faithful, and He is coming anew. Now. May you also know the presence of the Lord
this season. May you find words to name the ways He is coming anew in your
work, your heart, your relationships, your family, your very soul.
Peace be with you.
Melissa
SARI BARI CHRISTMAS
As you begin making shopping lists, and looking for that
perfect gift for someone you love, we’d like to invite you to join in the Sari
Bari Christmas celebration! India is a land with seemingly endless religious
festivals, and Christmas is an opportunity for us to clearly communicate the
amazing truth that God indeed became flesh and made his dwelling among us. At
Sari Bari we have a culture of celebration – and we go all out for Christmas!
Each of the women will receive a Sari (the perfect gift for every occasion here!), and we’ll share a
celebration meal together, laughter, dancing and the truth of God with us. Already the anticipation for this year’s
Christmas party is running high! A gift of $25 will sponsor Christmas for one
member of the Sari Bari family. If you would like to celebrate with us, you can
make a donation by check to WMF, PO Box 70, Omaha, NE 68101 or on the WMF
website. There is a link to “donate” on the lower left side of the Word Made
Flesh home page (www.wordmadeflesh.org).
Please indicate the gift is for Sari Bari Christmas.
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