If you observe the annual rhythms of the Western church, or have a penchant for chocolate treats in calendars then you’ll know we’ve entered the season of Advent.

Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’ and refers both to the birth of Jesus Christ, and the anticipation of his return as King. It’s often described as a season marked by longing, anticipation, expectation, and preparation. Of waiting. Advent reminds us of God’s intervention in the course of human history, and the promise of His Kingdom power.

I’ve been meditating on these words from John 1:14 in recent days. These words weigh heavily on my heart, keep circling around my mind:

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. (The Message)

God stepped into our world, leaving the splendor, majesty and perfection of heaven, and identified fully with us. He knows our humanity; He’s lived it. We follow a Savior who lived in our world, felt the weary dust of a broken earth in between his toes. A Savior familiar with suffering and injustice, who saw and knew joy and pain. Flesh and blood, yet fully God, transforming the very ground he trod on. Speaking, saving, healing, delivering. Redeeming the world. That truth gives me hope, sets my expectation, feeds my anticipation. I know that when He speaks, I know that when God shows up in my heart, in my life in my community, he understands, and he responds. Yes.

The word became flesh and blood and moved….

He walked and moved them, he walks and moves now. in our lives. he’s more than a mentor, more than a life coach, more than a lofty belief system or good advice. Jesus is God.

And yet. I’ll be honest with you, this has been a great year, but a tiring one. There have been many joys, but also staggering losses. I started this year with a stride, but I look to its end and I feel like I’m dragging my feet through my own weary dust, sometimes slipping through the cracks of my own broken earth. Perhaps I’m slowed down by a few of life’s cuts and bruises. Stung by its battles.

There are happenings in the world around and beyond me, situations amongst those I love, things within the very heart of me that ache with longing, where I am desperate for intervention. For His Redemption. Waiting can make you weary, raw and vulnerable even. At least, that’s what it does to me.

And so Advent? Advent somehow helps me walk in hope and vulnerability at the same time. I am singing to him, but I’m clinging to him too. I am listening to Him, and longing for him. He’s been in my life for 30 years now, so I know He’ll meet me here.

I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but sometimes, the Christmas season doesn’t so much as sweep me off my feet, it knocks me over! There’s my daughter’s birthday and her party, then whatever else the kids get up to at school for Christmas. Crafts and cookies galore. Then Christmas preparations, gifts for the family, cards to send to friends and family around the world (hopefully in time for Christmas!) before I even think about the Christmas services. And Christmas dinner. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s real easy to miss what God may be saying and doing during Advent.

So to fully engage with it all, I’m giving space in my prayers and my dog walks (!) for God to meet this vulnerable flesh and blood. Letting my heart function as if in slow motion for a while. I’ll be reading prayers and sayings and devotionals of saints through the ages and from around the world, in between trips to Super Target, and Christmas shows and movies! I’ll be meditating on John 1:14 because those words just won’t leave me alone. I’ll also be overthinking Christmas presents, and wrapping gifts badly (yes, using some of the paper from the past 5 years because I believe in recycling, because no one cares, and because I hate spending so much money on wrapping paper and I don’t care if it makes me cheap). I‘m not going on retreat; I’ll be doing life. But I’m laying all that I am and all my life is before Him, inviting Him to move in. And stay.

I wonder where you’re walking in hope – expecting God to move to move in your world. Where are you excited for the presence of the coming King?

I wonder where you’re a little desperate. Perhaps you are trudging through the dust of your days, Perhaps the broken earth cut deep and left you bleeding. Relationships, money, health… the draining pressure of uncertainty. Perhaps there are whispered heartfelt prayers and you’re wearied as you wait, still wait for His answer…

Wherever you’re at – Advent is an opportunity. Yes, to meet with God, but more importantly for God to meet with you. Jesus left the splendor of heaven and fully identifies with you, flesh and blood. He knows your very heartbeat. He comes to do more than watch and expect things from you. He’s very secure about you not having it all together. He’s not just come to pay you a visit. He’s come to move in to your hope and vulnerability and stay with you there.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.(John 1:14 NLT)

Grace and Peace be yours this Advent…

Jo