Zechariah 2:14
Advent is a time of celebrating the nearness of God, God’s desire to come so close to us that He ultimately becomes one with us. But as with Mary, God requires our “yes.” He will never force himself on us, but only invites and waits.
Just as we wait for Christmas, God patiently waits for us. He offers us peace, hope, joy, and love. And we so often choose anxiety, fear, anger, and hate. And so God waits. God’s way is always better, yet we often prefer our own. Despite our continued rejection of his options because of the preference of our own choices, God continues to patiently wait and invite us to a better way.
Advent is a time of seeking that way, of establishing, or pressing into, practices of prayer, reflection, reading Scripture, and stilling our minds and hearts. These cold, dark days provide an added invitation to settle into this quiet rhythm, snuggled in our prayer chair, perhaps by the fire, the sparkle of the Christmas tree lights, or a single candle's flame. The light of each of these calls us out of our self-imposed darkness into God’s light.
Just as the innkeeper had no room for Joseph and Mary at their greatest time of need, God asks us if we have room for him in our lives and hearts. Will we relegate him to the stable out back, a “safe” distance away, where we will rarely encounter him? Or will we invite him into our home, our life, our heart?
When we invite a loved one to stay with us, we turn our full attention to that person, preparing the guest room, making special meals, and planning activities to do together. It is a cherished time of talking, sharing our lives together, and growing closer. How might we open our lives to do the same with Jesus?
God is such a thoughtful guest, never leaving the bathroom or kitchen a mess, or creating extra laundry, or even interrupting our daily routine. God seeks only to accompany us, talk with us, and help us to have a fuller, more joyful life. That sounds like something I most certainly want. How about you?