Open link night at d’Verse. It is easy to become jaded with all that happens in the world around us. I have revised this piece from a couple of years ago, to remind us that truth is light and love is truth and Love wins!
Today is Advent Sunday in the Christian faith. It represents the time leading up to the birth of Christ, Emanuel, God with us. The prophet Isaiah spoke of coming out of darkness and into the light. It speaks so much to the feelings of our life this past year.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9:2 NIV (biblegateway.com)
My Nephew’s wife shared the following post this morning on her Face Book page. I thought is was so well written that I wanted to share it with you.
**********************
Advent feels different this year… it’s not just about me preparing my heart for the coming Christ-child.
Most of us have spent a significant amount of time this year sitting in the darkness of our own personal waiting rooms…waiting for healing, waiting for a job, waiting for pregnancy, waiting for reconciliation, waiting for a visit from family, waiting for lab results, waiting for “normal”, etc.
So instead of trying to ignore the darkness, I will wait a little longer, hoping that “the God who showed up in the hardest parts of our humanity is still showing up today…
…We often forget that the encounter with the incarnate Christ happens in unexpected places — our unexpected change of plans, our unaccomplished dreams, and humble new beginnings.” (Scott Erickson)
I’m looking forward to the day “the weary world rejoices” again.
What is you concept of God and heaven? A couple of years ago, I reflected on the concept of God that I was taught as a child; what the Bible taught us about God, and now, in my winter of life, what I think about those images and concepts. I saw this sign along the road a few years ago. This poem addresses more questions than answers. What do you visualize when you think of God?
Growing up in a Pastor’s family, I heard many Bible stories that told of the follies of men who put their trust in things that won’t sustain them. Proverbs talks of the fool and his folly. Jesus told parables of trusting in riches only to lose it all. He also told of the wise man who built his house on the rock while the foolish man built on the sand. Every time I go the the beach I am reminded of that story. Houses sit behind dunes, some up on stilts, and some right on the surf as this one does. It is just a matter of time before a hurricane comes and washes it all away.
Beach house on the edge
Fall hurricanes come roaring
Foolish man’s folly
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to write a poem of folly. This has so many ways it could be interpreted. I went back to my roots and my childhood stories in Sunday School for this one. Do you remember the song? How about the motions!? What fun memories!!
The death of Congressman John Lewis, bring a reflection of the intense turmoil he lived through during the Civil Rights era. The struggle for respect and equality still goes on sixty years later. As I look at the division that still remains, I realize it will not be resolved without God’s love changing our hearts allowing us to live together in peace.
Some views are shotguns blasting away
Others sling shots pelting against the gate.
Let’s have a conversation they say…
Come together // find common ground
Solve our differences together.
*
How does that happen with shotgun politics
and sling shot twitter, that couldn’t hit a brick wall.
When our view is the only right view,
Each conversation become one of persuasion or condemnation…
A ticket to ride our train non stop to our destination.
*
Legislated change without heart change, brings little hope.
History keeps repeating with every rotation.
Change comes with give and take // listening and hearing
Appreciating uniqueness // instead of condemning it.
*
Only a revolution of the heart will bring peace from division.
Perhaps, “love your neighbor as yourself”
are words that could make our world a better place…
Opening the door to finding common ground…
Bringing the “Hope and Change” we really need.
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Here is a favorite song from the Folk era by the Youngbloods called Let’s Get Together
Perhaps what is missing in this generation is the truth in Folk Music… Music that brought people together!
My sister shared this with me today. The sun is bright, the air fresh. We are alive and well, grateful to be safe at home. I share this photo and words from the Corrymeela Community in Belfast:
God of grieving,
God of silence,
there is a strange gift in having time,
one whole day this holy week,
to sit with questions of why
and how long
and to hear no response at all.
To rush from Friday to Sunday,
from death to resurrection,
wouldn’t do either justice.
Nor would it dignify the life
of those whose daily pain and grief
and constant pleas for justice
go unanswered in the world’s daily rhythm.
Let your silence fill this silence,
until our empty noise dies out.
Corrymeela Community is a non-profit organization in Northern Ireland dedicated to help bring healing to those who were traumatized by the many years of conflict and violence that occurred there between Catholic and Protestant factions.