Sunday Musings – December 22, 2019
On the Christian calendar this is the 4th Sunday of Advent; the last Sunday to stop and absorb the hope of all that the birth of Jesus represents in the Christian framework. Young children absorb and share hope excitement if they are allowed. Sadly, many children are living in homes where hope is nowhere to be found. There is so much pain with the adults in their home that it hides what comes naturally when children are loved and safe. It is tempting to judge those parents for conceiving and bringing children into that painful world. One is tempted to judge those parents and yet, every day, I talk to individuals who have come out of such bleak and painful circumstances to be the light which shines brightly on Christmas Eve to guide the wise men to the stable.
On this 4th Sunday of Advent my spiritual intention is to love those parents, the children and all others – even myself – as they are and not as I want them to be or think they “should” be. One might think that at my age I would find it relatively easy to live out this intention. Daily I am reminded of my own humanness; of my own self-centered behavior; of not thinking before I act or speak; of thinking that if so an so would just behave as I know that they should; of judging those ambitious or even sick politicians; of talking about those greedy people who want to make a huge profit off the backs of others; of thinking that it is time for someone to just let go of their grief; of judging another for their anger and/or violence; of secretly thinking others should be as spiritual as I; of saying I do not understand the unkindness of some others.
On this 4th Sunday of advent I am called to embrace my own humanness to the depth which allows me to see my own wounds and scars; the wounds and scars I must embrace if I am to grow. One of the former gang members working with Father Greg Boyle talks about wearing three tee shirts to hide his wounds and scars until he was able to accept and even embrace them. In the process of embracing them he is able to see that they are the wounds and scars of all of us; that even though not all of us grew up with the physical and emotional abuse of that young man and countless others we are all wounded and we are all in need of the compassion – the unconditional love – of that young man. Father Boyle discovers or allows delight as he meets with such young men and women. In the process of being with them he returns them to themselves and they return him to himself. This is the promise of love. No conditions. Just as we are. This is the hope and promise of Christmas.
Written December 22, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
On the Christian calendar this is the 4th Sunday of Advent; the last Sunday to stop and absorb the hope of all that the birth of Jesus represents in the Christian framework. Young children absorb and share hope excitement if they are allowed. Sadly, many children are living in homes where hope is nowhere to be found. There is so much pain with the adults in their home that it hides what comes naturally when children are loved and safe. It is tempting to judge those parents for conceiving and bringing children into that painful world. One is tempted to judge those parents and yet, every day, I talk to individuals who have come out of such bleak and painful circumstances to be the light which shines brightly on Christmas Eve to guide the wise men to the stable.
On this 4th Sunday of Advent my spiritual intention is to love those parents, the children and all others – even myself – as they are and not as I want them to be or think they “should” be. One might think that at my age I would find it relatively easy to live out this intention. Daily I am reminded of my own humanness; of my own self-centered behavior; of not thinking before I act or speak; of thinking that if so an so would just behave as I know that they should; of judging those ambitious or even sick politicians; of talking about those greedy people who want to make a huge profit off the backs of others; of thinking that it is time for someone to just let go of their grief; of judging another for their anger and/or violence; of secretly thinking others should be as spiritual as I; of saying I do not understand the unkindness of some others.
On this 4th Sunday of advent I am called to embrace my own humanness to the depth which allows me to see my own wounds and scars; the wounds and scars I must embrace if I am to grow. One of the former gang members working with Father Greg Boyle talks about wearing three tee shirts to hide his wounds and scars until he was able to accept and even embrace them. In the process of embracing them he is able to see that they are the wounds and scars of all of us; that even though not all of us grew up with the physical and emotional abuse of that young man and countless others we are all wounded and we are all in need of the compassion – the unconditional love – of that young man. Father Boyle discovers or allows delight as he meets with such young men and women. In the process of being with them he returns them to themselves and they return him to himself. This is the promise of love. No conditions. Just as we are. This is the hope and promise of Christmas.
Written December 22, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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