A new child in the family is coming soon. The room, its clothes, are prepared. Baby showers are given; the expectant mom is made comfortable; the dad is congratulated. Extensive preparations in joyful expectation are made. Do we enter Advent with similar joyful expectation? The monotony of senior age, a commercial focus on “material things,” distortions of political thought, and a perceived politicization seeping into the institutional church really tend to gnaw at me. I think as we age, we can become disheartened by all of this, but “Oops” – there goes Advent!

In my sadness about the condition of the world and its institutions, I realize I have a choice – to be led by the heart of Christ rather than the intellect of ‘decision makers’ in the world. We humans tend to be mighty arrogant about our beliefs! In response, how’s this for simplicity? “The government is upon His shoulders”; that means the church is His, the country is His; all life is His; Christmas is His; social justice or injustice is His. Political correctness or incorrectness is false choice; not of Him. Distortions of the world filled with agenda, manipulation and error lack heart of Christ; they are driven by human agenda. On top of it, for every action there comes a reaction – error trying to correct error! This is not of Him; none of it. So we must pray to stay with the basics of our faith. As Pastor remarked to me we either go toward the light or away from it. I choose to walk toward the light – to stay with the simplicity of the heart of Christ. (Well, at least I try.)

Experiencing Advent with a Christian heart beckons renewal from the Christ child which lifts us through the Holy Spirit. At my senior age, tired thinking and worldly human judgment melt away. In the quietness of a Christian heart I feel something wonderful awakening! It is soothing and healing; as such is the joy and healing that come with the renewal by new life. In that regard Advent is a truly wonderful season [even if quieter as I age]. Personally, I don’t want to miss out on that soothing balm of Gilead; it pales in comparison to human ‘choices’ espoused by those ‘in charge’.

Through a Christian heart, loving our promised Christ child seems to take on a more personal meaning. Christ the King, Prince of Peace, Counselor, Mighty Everlasting Father! God’s gift of unconditional love to us is coming; “for unto us a child is born.” To heck with worldly false “choices”. Do you realize a new baby is coming home to our Christian family soon? Can you feel His coming in your heart? You don’t want to miss out on that. Have you painted the new room in your own heart yet? I’m still working on mine.

Matthew 18:3 “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Doris