Dear Friends,

We have begun the Advent journey for 2011, that season of expectancy, joy, waiting, hope, and preparation that culminates with the celebration of the birth of a new human being, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The delight surrounding the birth of a baby is highly palpable generally after around 40 weeks of expectancy, joy, waiting, hope and preparation.

But it is not always like that. Last week we learned that someone close to us was pregnant – wonderful news to colour the path of advent for us this year. Then on Monday this week she lost the developing baby, and it is all over. No more expectancy, joy, waiting, hope and preparation, instead questions, sadness, disappointment, pain, and what now.

As I reflected on this juxtaposition during my morning constitutional there was the often encountered mix of seemingly contrary truths and understandings when Bible and experience meld. So how do we sort it?

We can’t. We simply have to live with the fact that there is much mystery about our God and that is where faith becomes real. He makes Himself known to us in many tangible ways but then there is so much that we cannot and will not know because we are human living in an imperfect world.

I have been reading recently The Pastor, A Memoir by Eugene Peterson. In one portion he describes the following (summarised by me)

The Jews have 5 mandated public acts of worship, each paired with an Old Testament book of ordinary life.

The Feast of Tabernacles is paired with Ecclesiastes. Tabernacles is the celebration of God’s provision of the no frills diet of quail, manna, and water that kept them alive for 40 years. God’s goodness and blessing that keeps us alive is often confused with God’s providing for us whatever we think we want or need. Ecclesiastes forbids us to join the crown of miracle mongers and answer makers claiming credentials authorised by God that swarm the religious market. Biblical religion is not “getting what we want from God”.

Advent: expectancy ... pain. Make the most of it.

There is a long gap now till we communicate with you next. Many of you will enjoy some vacation during this time and I pray they will be days and weeks of refreshment, fun, family adventure, and renewal of body, mind and spirit. If you are not able to have such in the next 8 weeks then I pray you will know strength and stamina for the work and way of life that is yours. And in all things may our God who is full of mercy and grace be glorifies in your life and mine.