December 2015

May You Find a Light

There are 12°C outside, a warm breeze and you can enjoy a coffee in the sun on the balcony.
It’s also the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. The highlight of Christmas cheer, music and cookies.
I’m not ready for this.

After many weeks of stress, running around to finish assignments, make deadlines, pass exams, fulfill expectations I don’t feel like Christmas at all.
My heart is restless. There’s no room to let in the Christmas joy and peace. My mind is too full to rejoice in the fact that Christ, our Savior, came to light up our darkness.
Christmas is coming and I am not prepared.

Many many years ago a group of shepherds might have felt the same way. They were outside one night taking care of their flock.
They might have tried to fight off sleep that wanted to overtake them.
They might have shivered in the cold night breeze.
They might have wondered what tomorrow would bring.
They might have worried if they’ll ever fit in.

They weren’t ready what what came next.
Heavens opened up, the skies were illuminated with bright light. A group of angels sang of new joy and hope.
The group shepherds decided to let go of their worries and just followed. A star led them to a baby which would become their and our Savior.
In the midst of darkness they found a light, a joy, a hope, a home.

What grace that God doesn’t wait for us to be ready.
In the midst of our worries and darkness His light breaks through.
In the midst of our loud business His angel voices take the stage.
He invites us to let go of our worries and meddlesome lives and just follow. His light will guide us to place where we find hope and joy and peace. A place where we belong. He will guide us home.

No matter how dark and busy your life might look like right now, no matter how little ‘Christmas-sy’ you might feel at the moment – allow Christmas to settle inside your heart.
May you have time for good food and fellowship with the family.
May you experience some of that Christmas light and joy that will guide you home.
May you let your heart rest for a while and regain strength for all the new adventures ahead of you.

THANK YOU for reading along this year, for all your responses – they mean so much to me! Looking forward to more thoughts in 2016!

If you still need a bit of Christmas tunes for your soul, treat yourself to this.

[Five Minute Friday] Arrival

Advent.
NOUN /ˈædvent/
the time when something begins or comes into existence
the process of bringing something into existence or use for the first time

It’s 5.15 and my alarm goes off. Time to get up and go to work. I ride the train through the pitch black landscape and during the first lesson it is still completely dark. It feels surreal living and working when you can’t see anything outside.

The winter months are the dark ones that force us to go home early.
To stumble through the darkness.
To accept that we are often blind and have no clue about life whatsoever.

These dark months sharpen our endurance.
They refine our dreams.
They train our senses to wait and to hope.

Right in the middle of this waiting period Advent happens.
The arrival of the One who calls himself light of the world.
He enters our dark and confusing world with his perfect light that makes any kind of lightbulb look dim.
His light outshines our every darkness, our doubts, our hopelessness.
His light drives out any of our fears and accuations.
Flee oh darkness, for the light is here.

His breath revives our weary hearts and tense muscles.
His glow sheds light onto our faults and pulls our broken souls out of the shadows. He illuminates the dark spots we so often try to hide.
His healing hand mends our broken bones and broken hearts.

His light challenges us to pass it on.
To not keep it to ourselves, but share it with those who still stumble through the darkness.
To create a space where both of us are free to live in the light and share our bruises.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
Isaiah 9:2;6&7

Writing for Five Minute Friday today. The last one for this year!

[Five Minute Friday] Season

Yesterday I went for a walk with a friend. The sun was already down and we were enclosed in darkness. People brushed by us with their faces tucked away in thick winter coats. We wore hats, coats and gloves, but it was still cold.

As we walked the busy streets of our town I realized how much I detest the cold.
I don’t like my whole body shuddering in these low temperatures.
I don’t like tense muscles because I’m shivering so much.
I don’t like wet feet because the beautiful white snow has become some brown disgusting slump.
I don’t like people running past each other, everyone in a hurry to get out of the cold. We’re generally in a bad mood because, well, it’s just too cold.
I don’t like that it’s Advent, but I am way too busy to even slow down, reflect and let Christmas joy settle in my worry-haunted heart.

Since I spent a few years in warmer realms I am naturally inclined towards the sun.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have summer all year round, I would suggest in my dreams.
Recently I’ve come to answer this question with no.

Despite the cold and the moody people, winter has its beauty.
There are lights and the smell of freshly cut branches in the house.
There’s baking Christmas cookies and gathering for tea times with friends.
There are slower songs that bring back memories from all those winters when we were small.

There’s a moment of slowing down, letting go, death.
Creating space for unseen things to grow and unfold.
Practicing patience while waiting for spring to bring back new life and new dreams.

Winter is a moment for the soul to pause and cleanse itself. When the first rays of sun and blossoms break through in spring it is ready to rejoice and take in new life.

Just as nature blossoms and dies we need these seasons to learn, to wait, to grow.

Writing for Five Minute Friday today.