O Come, Immanuel: Journey Of Hope

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5, (ESV)

Hello Dear Friend,

“Grinch.” Seth leaned on the doorframe to Sarah’s office watching as she feverishly worked away with her head bent down reviewing the presentation she was working on. When she looked up at him, he stuck out his tongue.

Sarah’s mouth dropped open and dramatically gasped in surprise, “I cannot believe that you would call me a Grinch! I mean really, Seth that hurts a little.” She smiled at her best friend before continuing with a more serious response as she confessed, “I’m not a Grinch. I just…” she hesitated, “I’m just not as into it this year is all.”

“Why?” Seth asked as he grabbed a chair and wheeled it over beside her before slumping down into it. “You normally can’t wait for this time of year and you love Christmas. What’s changed?”

“Oh geez,” Sarah let out a sigh-full laugh as she started. “Let’s see…I’m tired. I’m burnt out. I’m stressed. I’m constantly trying to manage chronic pain. You know, even through the pain level varies; it’s always there to some degree.” Sarah let out a deep exhale before finishing with, “And I think I might be depressed.”

“A lot of people tend to deal with a bit of depression this time of year. But where do you think yours is coming from specifically?”

“Three of my friends got engaged over the Thanksgiving holiday. Five more have announced that they are pregnant. Then there is the countless handful of acquaintances posting images of their newly accessorized hand, or photos from their wedding that have finally come back from the photographer, or their first picture of their baby via an ultrasound, or showing off the baby bump – it’s all over my Instagram feed.” Annoyed, she finally stopped long enough to take in a deep breath.

“Wow, you really took off on a bit of a rant there didn’t you?” Seth playfully pushed his shoulder into hers as she laughed.

“Well, you asked.” Turning serious again she added. “I don’t know. I feel like everyone else has their life moving forward like it’s supposed to. Meanwhile I sit here, feeling like I’m constantly taking detours in my life and getting nowhere.”

“How do you mean?”

“I’ve been so focused on my career that I have no time for life. Look at me, I’m in my mid-thirties and I don’t have a pet, I can’t even take care of a plant and I don’t have a serious boyfriend. I mean forget the boyfriend I don’t even have a crush to get me excited about the possibility of a boyfriend, or a relationship, or a date. Everyone around me seems to have a fiancé or a family of their own. Speaking of, I don’t even get to be with the family I do have for Christmas this year. Did I tell you that my parents and siblings are all headed to Aspen for the holiday and I’ll be here in Chicago working on that marketing campaign for one of our biggest clients. Stuart wants this presentation ready to pitch to them in that meeting on the twenty-third with the hopes of beginning the project right after Christmas. And when I say ‘right after’ I mean right after, Stuart will probably still be digesting his Christmas Eve dinner when we reconvene over the phone to discuss the 'next steps.'”

Seth hid his laughter when Sarah put up her hands forming air quotes with her fingers, bobbled her head back and forth and widened her eyes as she said the last two words. He shook it off, “Didn’t you ask to be assigned to the team for that project?”

“I did. Yeah. I did. It’s just now I’ll be working right through Christmas and spending the holiday alone – stuck in this bustling city where everyone has someone and somewhere to go except for me.”

“I thought you loved this city at Christmas?”

“I do. I told you I’m in a funk. I’m stressed!” Sarah whined. “You know I’ve been itching for a promotion for forever now. With Doug leaving, his position is up for grabs. If I can just stay focused and come up with something amazing for this project that will wow Stuart, his partners and knock the socks off of this client then the job is mine. I can feel it, not to mention Stuart practically said so. He told me that if this project is successful then it will put in the running as a serious contender for Doug’s old job.”

Seth let all her words sink in and settle for a moment before responding. “You know, you’re not alone. You have me. I’m pretty sure you have another friend or two. But have you thought about reconnecting with the church?”

Sarah made a face, “Oh, I don’t know.” She laughed, “I mean I haven’t been to church in years.”

“Yeah I know,” Seth responded in sarcasm, “All the more reason to come – right?”

Sarah glared at him and rolled her eyes.

“Look, I know the church hurt you years ago and that you haven’t set foot in one since we graduated from Northwestern together. But have you ever thought that maybe that’s what’s missing. Maybe your heart is hopefully waiting to feel that connection from the congregation again and to feel a sense of belonging and purpose, maybe it’s time to come home.”

Sarah nodded and appeared to be deep in thought as she responded in a low voice, “Maybe” was all she said, committing to nothing.

A few days had passed since Sarah’s discussion with Seth when she found herself out on a walk for some fresh air, a bit of exercise and a distraction to help calm her mind. She was about to walk right on by the little stone church tucked away and almost completely submerged by the surrounding skyscrapers in the heart of the city when she stopped with a sudden impulse to turn and walk inside.

She ventured deeper and deeper inside, passing pew after pew, heading towards the front of the sanctuary. It was quiet and still inside the holy structure and she could feel her spirit calming though she wasn’t quite sure how or why. She grabbed one of the matches sitting beside the rows of candles and as she lit her candle and watched the tiny flame flicker against the darkness something stirred within her. That one small action woke something inside her as hope ignited within her soul…

The Jedi Mind Trick

I recently had my yearly physical and during my visit the nurse not only asked if I was feeling depressed, one of many questions in her routine questionnaire, but proceeded to push the point that if I was feeling any kind of depression at all; to not make light of it but instead, prompted me that I needed to be sure to contact them immediately. I shrugged it off with the expected, “Okay, I will.” response that she was looking. But as I said this I remember thinking just how far the human race has fallen and how sad it is that the medical field has to drive that point home to everyone that crosses they’re path regardless of the individual’s mental stability. Unfortunately, I’m sure the wayward world’s current events are a contributing factor.

Then I found myself talking with a friend just this week and they brought up their recent visit to the doctor’s office. During which the doctor informed this particular individual that they believed this person was suffering from depression. This statement surprised the individual but as a result they began to entertain the idea.

It was then that I realized the Jedi Mind trick played on the both of us. Guard your hearts and be careful, the flesh is weak and our minds grow tired. Half of the time it goes unnoticed just how often the enemy will use man to trick you. Before you know it you could be agreeing to certain things said, committing yourself to what’s asked of you, and slowly losing your identity until one day you find yourself addicted to something you should have never exposed yourself to in the first place.

For many of us, we’re like Sarah in the story mentioned above. I too at times will deal with very mild situational depression. It comes and goes depending on what I’m going through. I recognize it for what it is and I fully have a handle on because it’s a passing symptom of something else going on in my life having to do with the season I’m currently in.

A Thrill Of Hope

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord.” –Micah 7:7, (NASB)

Sadly, the Advent season has crept up on me this year. As far as mediating on scripture, basking in this first week of Advent and fully embracing the holiday season – I’ve fallen behind, sooo behind. Here the first week of Advent is about to conclude and I’m just now trying to find some time to crack open my Bible and devote some of my time towards my Advent reading plan while hitting pause so that I can reflect on what this season true means. That’s okay though, because you know what? There’s still time. We’re still pretty early into the season. There’s time to shift my focus onto what’s more important. This is a time and season meant to be celebrated. That’s right this is a season of celebration! We’re supposed to be lighthearted and full of hope.

Hope. What a sweet virtue, a desire for something and waiting expectantly to receive it.

In the days of old, the people of Israel eagerly waited in hope of the coming of their Messiah – the One who would come to free them. Jesus, God’s one and only Son – when He came down to earth in human form made of flesh and blood He reconnected us to Heaven. He was the missing link and in His coming, He reconnected us to our Father. Today, we wait in hope for His Second Coming and for the Kingdom of Heaven. The world is eagerly yearning for the return of her Savior, the King of kings.

As the first week of Advent comes to a close I’ll leave you with this prayer by John Piper…

“My prayer for you this Christmas – that you would experience the fullness of Christ; that you would know in your heart the outpouring of grace upon grace; that the glory of the only Son from the Father would shine into your heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ; that you would be amazed that Christ can be so real to you.” – John Piper, The Dawning Of Indestructible Joy

This December that’s my prayer. Not just for you, but maybe even more importantly, for myself. I pray that we would both slow down this Christmas season and allow ourselves to get lost in the outpouring love that God has for us. May our hearts fully come to know and understand the overflow of grace upon grace that we’ve received from Him and may we see Christ move in our lives in such a way that we could have never imagined. May our souls ignite with a flame of hope that shines brightly into the darkness and may that shining light guide the way for others to find that same hope we have in Christ.

With love,

a Poetic Soul