PEACE is the theme of our second week of Advent. It seems fitting, as this is often one of the busiest weeks of December. School Christmas plays and concerts, finalizing plans of family and food for Christmas get-togethers, shopping for gifts to give to teachers at class parties next week…
It’s in the midst of the chaos that we’re invited to dwell on peace. And as I’ve thought about it over the past week, you know what I’ve realized?
Peace doesn’t always look the way we think it “should”
One of my favorite Christmas songs about peace is “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”. It references the wrong in our lives and in our world, then turns and proclaims God’s glory and power and overwhelming peace.
But I’ve always had an issue with this song: the commonly sung tune for it is way too happy.
How can you sing “All ye beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow” in a cheerful, lilting melody? Yes eventually the lyrics turn, but…
We need to stop and allow ourselves to feel the pain before we can truly appreciate the promise of peace. And often, that peace will end up surprising us in how it’s packaged.
The idea of becoming a hermit in our house and completely avoiding all of the busyness of December does sound appealing and peaceful. But for the majority of us, it can never be a reality. And we don’t necessarily want it to be! When we’re actually at our extended family Christmas parties playing games and eating cookies, or opening gifts with our kids on Christmas morning, we relish the moment and are bursting with joy and happiness.
It’s the preparation for the event that is painful.
What would it look like if, over the next two weeks, instead of complaining to your friends about how busy the season is, and sighing with contempt and annoyance, and vowing next year will be different — what if you did this:
1. Stand in front of your calendar. Or your to-do list.
(I have both. And both on paper and on my phone. I’m quite the list maker.)
2. Look at them. REALLY look at them.
And say out loud, “YES. THIS IS OVERWHELMING. THIS IS STRESSFUL. THIS IS BUSY.” Acknowledge it. Name it. Don’t be afraid of the chaos and the pain and the stress each activity will cause you to experience. You’re not likely to cancel any of these upcoming activities.
3. Look at them again.
And see and hear the people involved in each one.
See your kids standing on that stage at school, dressed in their Christmas finest (or stable animal costume), belting out “Jingle Bells” or “Away in a Manger” (or just hiding their face behind their hands, because come on — that’s cute in its own way).
