"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2
Advent has arrived. Over the last four or five years, Advent's worth and meaning in my life has increased at a steady, rapid rate. In fact, Advent has become even more the focus of my excitement than Christmas day itself, at least the gift exchange part. Without the birth of Christ, Advent would lose its power, as it is the anticipation of said birth. Perhaps it is due to maturity, or more likely my employment at a church, but regardless I adore Advent. Each year I find such a peace of heart and mind during this season. Even when I was student and December meant the end of the semester rush and the chaos of finals week, this season felt calm. The church becomes my location of choice for more than the usual activities. I suspect that the juxtaposition of darkness coming so early in the day, and the church's light and warmth increases my attraction, add to that the wonderful adornments within the church such as wreaths, greenery, purple and silver decorations, and the large Christmas Tree in the Sanctuary, and you have my favorite place to be during this season.
Grace Presbyterian Church, my church, has become home and family for me ever since I began my work in the music ministry there in March of two-thousand eleven. The music ministry itself has taught me more than my awareness declared I needed. Most weeks I can be found on a piano bench aiding in rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday nights for a couple hours, entering into a community of people sharing in the worship of God, while rehearsing so that others may enter into a deeper level of worship come Sunday morning. All people unfortunately have a certain relationship with darkness, and I am no exception. Darkness takes on many different roles so as to not leave anyone untouched. In the depths of my perceived despair, at any point, I find and have found solace at Grace Presbyterian. The church, a place which I avoided for a period of my life, has shown a brighter Light than any place ever has; Light filled with community, vulnerability, acceptance, encouragement, challenge, belief in me, and unconditional love. Tonight, our fearless leader shared words of remembering moments of our lives and glorifying God by honoring those memories. The memory that I suspect inspired her words is a tragic incident in her family the resulted in the loss of multiple loved ones far too soon. While that occurrence is six years in the past, I can only imagine that it must feel so fresh at each anniversary, and yet there she was using that memory to bring Glory to God the Father. She is finding Light in darkness, and in sharing that Light with others partners with them in driving out their own darkness. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.
Frequently, I am overcome with distress caused by the state of our world. So much hate, so much unrest, so much persecution. Why? Why do we drive ourselves into acts of cruelty and a life of pain? Whether it be rejecting refugees, attacking one another because of differing opinions and beliefs, or discrimination based upon race, class, and sexual orientation, it all causes further separation between people and breeds more hate. Hate cannot drive out hate. There must be Love. Darkness adores company in the way of fear. Genuine Love extinguishes fear. Lightness casts the darkness aside and shines evermore brightly.
This year will mark four years in a row that I will have sung either Comfort Ye and/or Every Valley from the Messiah. Preparations for my yearly contribution to worship have involved a new perspective on the text. The prophetic texts of Isaiah that comprise both pieces of music have become of my favorite. The idea of the entire world preparing for the birth of Jesus is incredible to me, and a little bit overwhelming. "Comfort Ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak thee comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, and her iniquity is pardoned." I see so much brokenness impacting my loved ones. A friend has health conditions that weigh heavily on him, even if he doesn't want me to see. Family members struggle to support one another and grow weary. When these kinds of things weigh on my heart, simple things like having best friends live across the country in either direction from me and not knowing when I will see them, hearing the hurts of people about whom I care dearly, and really small irritations start to disproportionately burden me. However, as we explore Advent, we are actually awaiting the birth of a King. He is a King that will right every wrong and lay our brokenness to rest.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6
Any time I feel darkness creeping in, I can hear the opening lines of Comfort Ye. "Comfort Ye, Sean. Your iniquity is pardoned. There is no darkness here, only Light, and darkness will not overcome it".
