In
our home we build up our Christmas decorations slowly through Advent. One of
the pieces that comes out on the second weekend is a German wooden Christmas
carousel/pyramid. Heat rises from candles to drive propellor blades that spin a
nativity scene – slowly at first, then faster, building up momentum. In truth,
it can be mesmerising, quite relaxing to look on.
But
spinning around is not relaxing. And I am aware of an Anxious Generation,
driven to distraction, unable to embrace stillness – to enter into the rest
that God holds out to us. I am also aware that there are some in this very
generation who are ‘returning’ to church, in search of God; returning to a
place left behind by their parents’ (and perhaps grandparents) generation,
drawn by the call of deep rest in a very fast digital moment. A generation who
need to rediscover how to be quiet and still – on the inside – and in this
Advent can help, as we discover the God who waits for us to wait for him.
One
of the things many Christians do in Advent is read the poetry of the prophet
Isaiah, who lived and wrote some 600 years before the birth of Jesus. At
Morning Prayer today, we read these verses:
‘For thus said the
Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused and said,
‘No! We will flee upon horses’—
therefore you shall flee!
and, ‘We will ride upon swift steeds’—
therefore your pursuers shall be swift!
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
at the threat of five you shall flee,
until you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.
‘Therefore the Lord
waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.’
Isaiah 30:15-18
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