Once again, we find ourselves entering into the Season of Christmas. We reflect on the past year. For some of us, it has been hard as we struggled to just make it through. Is there no end to the evil that seems to inhabit the earth?
I came across an article by Brian McLaren. In it, he states that there is something trying to be born. And, there is something dying. This world of greed, oppression, of the haves against the have nots, this is what is dying. All the evil that seems to inhabit the news is dying.
If we only look at what is dying, we may feel despair.
Yet, something is trying to be born. It is not as loud and angry as what is dying but it is far more important. What is being born is beautiful. It is a time of Peace, Love, Justice and Harmony for the planet. The pain of moments might feel like death pains they are really labour pains.
As Valerie Kaur says the darkness is simultaneously the darkness of the tomb of what is dying and the darkness of the womb of what is waiting to be born. It has been trying to be born for 2,000 years.
You and I are the womb. What is trying to be born is within all of us, all of life.
There is a great justice waiting for you and me to allow its birth. In this season of Advent, we are not waiting for the baby, we are waiting for the birth. It can come from us. It must be born in us for the sake of the earth and life. Feel that gentle movement within you. Do we feel the need to push?
Let what was begun those many years ago in that obscure Middle Eastern country be the reality for you now. Be the womb from which comes the Joy we have been waiting for. Let this Christmas be The Christmas for the sake of you and the world.
Wally Hargrave
100 Mile United Church
