An Advent Journey: When God Became Small — Day Twenty-Eight

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James 1:17-18, The Message

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

I love candlelight. It soften things, it creates a distinct atmosphere, it brightens dark corners, it reminds me that I’m not alone when I’m feeling blue. Before each friend who comes to me for spiritual direction enters my small study, I light a candle. And I offer a brief prayer — for them, for our work together, thanking God for this gift.

And each person who comes is one of those ‘rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.’ As is every loved person in my life. 

And every difficult person, as well.

Because in reality, all of my life is gift. And that includes all the hard parts, the tough relationships, my own feelings of insecurity and loneliness. ALL of it is infused with the presence of God, all of it speaks to me of truth and hope.

And so tonight, we will light our candles. We will sing, “Silent Night.” And we will carry those lit candles out into the darkness of a starry Santa Barbara night, an act which reminds us that we do not go alone. The One who came, so small and vulnerable, that One goes with us. Into the night, into the next day, into life eternal.

Thanks be to God!

Thank you, O Lord,  for making the journey. Thank you for becoming small. Thank you for living small, for showing us how it’s done, for offering us hope and peace and power. Thank you.

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Comments

  1. And your life is a gift to all who are blessed to know you. Merry Christmas, Diana.

  2. And thank you Diana for this advent journey. Merry Christmas 🙂