Letting things go

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on you, because they trust in you. - Isaiah 26:3

We can think of Advent as a journey, a journey of letting go and discovering God.

An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas Day. “The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other,” she said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a seashell of lustrous beauty. “Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?” the teacher asked.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.

“It’s gorgeous . . . wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get the gift for me.” His eyes brightening, the boy answered, “Long walk part of gift.”

God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to the grave and from a grave back to heaven. And we ask, “Why all this trouble, God?” And God would say to us, “Long walk part of gift.”

And the whole world appreciates the gift, right? Well, not really. Now, just like that night long ago, Jesus is, for many, an inconvenience. There’s little room for God’s gift.

Will making room for Jesus be inconvenient? Yes, it will be at times. But before we complain too loudly, let us consider how Jesus inconvenienced Himself to make room for us and in that beautiful gift let us allow ourselves to be at perfect peace because our minds are stayed upon the Holy One.

Loving Father, I pray that the thoughts of my heart and the meditation of my mind would be entered on You, moment by moment, so that the righteousness and peace of Christ will kiss my life as I walk in spirit and truth, in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.