2015 is almost over, and I think most of the world is ready to usher in a new year. These past 12 months have been chaotic and tragic: from more police brutality cases to Beirut suicide bombers; from Russian plane explosions to coordinated attacks on Paris; from refugees fleeing for their lives and last week’s mass shooting in San Bernardino to monsoon-type flooding in India.
And then there’s the comments filled with vitriol, misinformation, straight up racism (at worst) and ignorance (at best) that take over the news cycle, social media and the internet at large after such events. Gun control debates (when maybe the deeper issue is really campaign finance reform…anyone, anyone?), anti-Muslim sentiments, anti-refugee policies and the list goes on. And those are just the comments I’ve seen from Christians.
Now it’s December and we are supposed to make sense of this sky-is-falling world during a season where we – at least here in the West – glorify a fat guy in a red, velvet suit and go into debt buying gifts for people they probably didn’t need, and in many cases won’t even like.
It would almost be comical if it wasn’t so dang confusing.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. The world is broken, and people are hurting, and sometimes I just feel like we need a worldwide group nap. (Sleep deprivation makes people cranky, after all.)
But wait, there is HOPE! This is the season of Advent.
Advent is an ode of sorts to Biblical times when an entire nation – war-torn, scattered, oppressed, battered and bruised – was waiting for the Prince of Peace that Isaiah described.
The fulfillment of every prophesy about Jesus hundreds of years before he was born.
A time when Christians today remember to “bend our anger into HIS peace” (as IF:equip so eloquently reminded us the other day).
The expectant hope of a future time described in Revelation when we will hunger no more, thirst no more, and when God will wipe every tear from our eyes.
A time when we remember “the good news of great joy that will be for all people.” (Luke 2)
And while I am blessed with a faith that allows me to imagine and experience the hope of Jesus, it’s daunting to think about sharing this hope with others. How do I spread joy? How will people feel at peace on this crazy planet NOW?
Here are three things I believe can make a difference:
- Be kind to strangers. Recognize the brokenness in EVERY person that we encounter – from the grocery bagger to the homeless guy you walked by on the street. Your smile or a simple “hello” could be the only way they know they are seen in this world.
- Show compassion to everyone, even the perpetrators of horrible crimes and their families (I’m thinking of that poor, 6-month old baby orphan in San Bernardino). Everyone was created with inherent value for a purpose, and no one grows up hoping to be a murderer one day. Skewed belief systems, poverty, mental anguish, chemical imbalance, and emotional heartache are all consequences of a fallen, disturbed world. Instead of rushing to judgement, we should probably be falling on our knees.
- Be humble. When discussing hard topics – whether in person or on social media – recognize that your upbringing, circumstances, and the color of your skin skew the way you see the world and experience this life. While I love that we have public platforms to share our opinions, we need to do so in a way that acknowledges that there is another, equally valuable point of view. Because while you and I, or you and your neighbor, or you and your mom, might disagree on how we get there, I think we can agree on the end goal: a world where we live peaceably with others, have the opportunity to pursue our goals, and the freedom to live out our faith.
I know it seems silly to think that things like this – so basic and obvious – can have any impact, but it at least it could feel like something. And maybe something is the place we need to start from.
Praying that you are infused with an extra measure of imagination this Advent season, and that you experience much joy, hope and peace!
[Image credit: funnyand.com]