My, my – how I delight in words! A “play on words,” the title of this blog that popped into mind. I think we all get how the English language can be downright tricky most of the time.

CLOSER

“Look closer because the closer we get, the closer the closer gets.”
The Closer. Capitalizing the word, it begins to make sense. I hope.

“Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Getting near.

Closer, The Closer is. Pronounce the “s” a certain way, which is easy if English is your primary, or first language.

Look, listen, get your head on straight.

Clear a straight path for The Closer. (That was the title of a recent T.V. show, and the eponymous key character played by Mrs. Kevin Bacon). Close the case.

Close the deal.

Make sure you pronounce the “s” like a “z”, which then sounds like clothes, further complicating things for the ESL (English as a Second Language) people.

That is also part of the picture. The Closer is for all tribes and nations, all peoples and tongues.

“Get your holy and repent on,” Pastor Art said pejoratively.

This Advent season is so vivid, so “in your face” and in your heart. Every Bible reading, every note of music. Speaking of, I listened as I do every Advent season, to Handel’s “Messiah”. I was sobbing. The words of the prophets set to gorgeous melodies that become earworms for me. I can’t adequately convey what this master work of music does to me – especially for such a time as this. Everything that this world offers is ultimately garbage. Every promise – from “promising” that the elevator at your assisted living facility will be fixed “soon and very soon” to campaign “promises” (BOTH parties). Yada, yada, yada.

It is not so with the Kingdom of God. We are all homesick for the home that is the one true Home, which The Closer will bring. This season is all too precious, all too brief, to waste it on the trivialities and banalities of man-made systems that do not deliver. Our strong Deliverer is getting close. Embrace that unconditional love.

Pastor Art