The Road to Bethlehem
It is the first Sunday in Advent but I've been walking the road to Bethlehem already for awhile. Why? How? Well, two weeks ago, the City of Selkirk put up a nativity scene made out of clear lights on white plastic silhouettes a few blocks down on my street. Almost daily I walk past it and think about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Two things strike me about it. First, it is kind of hard to see the Holy Family clearly. Or maybe a better way to put it is that it is hard to see each person in the Holy Family distinctly. It's just the way the nativity scene was made with Mary cradling Jesus and Joseph hovering near by. This lack of distinctiveness motivates me on a project that is long overdue: to take time this Advent to think about Mary (more to come on that in the weeks to come....).
The second thing that intrigues me about our "little Bethlehem scene" is that it is located very near the new homeless shelter, St. Francis House. They are only 100 metres or so apart. I can't help but call to mind the fact that Mary and Joseph had nowhere to stay and therefore ended up in a stable when the time came for Jesus' birth. The story becomes more alive as I view it in this light.
My "road to Bethlehem" is getting me thinking and helping me wait. Advent can be a tough season to focus on. There is so much busyness with Christmas and the end of the year coming, so many details and distractions, functions and festivities. So what are we to do? What I am trying to do is take a little time each day to remember the season, to remember to prepare for Christmas spiritually not just emotionally or physically. The road to Bethlehem allows me time to ponder my sin and my need for redemption.... my need for Jesus. It give me hope that although life is full of challenges (the -30 windchill as I walk reminds me of this), Jesus is coming again when we don't expect it (Mark 13:24-37). It brings a renewed perspective and I am grateful for it.
May you have a blessed Advent,
in Christ,
Tracy
The second thing that intrigues me about our "little Bethlehem scene" is that it is located very near the new homeless shelter, St. Francis House. They are only 100 metres or so apart. I can't help but call to mind the fact that Mary and Joseph had nowhere to stay and therefore ended up in a stable when the time came for Jesus' birth. The story becomes more alive as I view it in this light.
My "road to Bethlehem" is getting me thinking and helping me wait. Advent can be a tough season to focus on. There is so much busyness with Christmas and the end of the year coming, so many details and distractions, functions and festivities. So what are we to do? What I am trying to do is take a little time each day to remember the season, to remember to prepare for Christmas spiritually not just emotionally or physically. The road to Bethlehem allows me time to ponder my sin and my need for redemption.... my need for Jesus. It give me hope that although life is full of challenges (the -30 windchill as I walk reminds me of this), Jesus is coming again when we don't expect it (Mark 13:24-37). It brings a renewed perspective and I am grateful for it.
May you have a blessed Advent,
in Christ,
Tracy
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