The Hope of God-With-Us

The Hope of God-With-Us does not come as guaranteed outcome,

or predetermined plan, or promise of a happy ending.

Hope cannot be imposed from on high.

Hope cannot be commanded.

The Hope of God-With-Us is courageous, risky, unfolding, indeterminate.

The Hope of God-With-Us is collective, liberating us from deadly complacency.

Hope is gestating in darkness; it comes unexpectedly.

Hope invites our expectation, and demands our participation.

Prepare the way, for hope with courage.

May Hope be birthed among, within, and through us, this Advent.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel…

Rev. Anna Blaedel

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Advent

The Season of difficult Hope

For even though one has proclaimed the way

Even though one has shown the way

We are confused

And stumble in the dark

We are told God is with us

We are told to fear not

To have hope

We are told that God will make a road through the wilderness

But we cannot even find a pathway

Our lives are full of the indeterminate and the unexpected

It never seems to stop

Never

We are assailed from every side

Cancer

Another large expense

Words of hate

Harbingers of fear.

Greed, abuse, lies

To have hope seems illogical

Risky

Foolish

Perhaps it is better to say it is courageous

Faithful

Trusting

And hope is not received

It is lived

It is does not come down from on high, with angel wings

But emerges from the depths of our bowels

From the dirt and grime, the sweat and tears

It is lived out

Not only in the words we say,

“Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Luke et. al)

But in the lives we live,

“Let us abound in love” (I Thessalonians)

It is birthed each time we become aware

Of the advent of love in our lives

Of the Mystery that lurks in our souls

Of the love that in power incarnates

And ultimately determines who we are

In the face of it all