Comfort?

Last Sunday we held a gathering to acknowledge that for many people times like Christmas can be difficult. Loved ones have moved or have left us. By New Year’s Eve, we’ve all had a birthday goals, dreams or plans for change can seem further away than ever. The days are dark and for some of us, a weariness takes hold.

So, in some ways Advent is exactly what we need. The light has come, joy is possible – it’s just that at a time like this, some wonder if it’s true. At some level, I wonder if most people feel this way at times. We live in tension.

For the past year I’ve been battling conflicting emotions. This year is our first away from BC during Christmas. It’s been a year since our home is in Ponoka and that meant leaving much behind. I’ve hesitated to speak this honestly about it until now for a couple of reasons. One is probably a bit of denial.

God wanted us here and made that plain. We’ve been warmly received and have a new beginning.  The denial is in leaving BC, our family, and not grieving the separation honestly. The second reason is connected to the first. It has to do with fear. The fear of giving the wrong impression – that we’re itching to return to BC. The fear that if we don’t invest in Sonrise, then the people of Sonrise won’t invest in us.

So, I’ll say it plainly, moving here has brought joy. But moving here has also involved loss. And I know that I am not the only one who has experienced loss this year. For some it was the passing of a father, a friend, a husband, sister, aunt or brother. For some it’s been the loss of a close friendship. For others the loss of a dream, opportunity or job. For some it’s been the loss of health.

Loss it seems is quite common. And in strange ways overshadows the joys we also experience. Because many of us having experienced a loss also experienced the joy of new life, births, relationships, healing and goals achieved.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel guilty about that conflict.

I believe that joy and grief both teach us        something and we need to explore both. We are called to live in the tension.

God knows this and gave words to a prophet long ago. Isaiah lived during periods of great joy and grief. He served four kings – three were good and one evil. He saw spiritual renewal and the destruction of Jerusalem because of sin. He knew joy and grief. He knew the overwhelming sorrow of painful loss.

So he spoke a word by the power of the Spirit: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God (Isaiah 40.1). I wonder how those people felt. Did God’s promise sound like wishful thinking? Were they wondering why, why did you let this happen, why did you do this to us? I suspect so and I suspect those who grieve       losses routinely think the same things.

Why not? God is king and nothing happens without his direct action or permission. And while God does explain why disaster came upon the whole nation, God remains silent as to why individuals have to suffered so.

Instead of answering God speaks the word we need to hear. Comfort, comfort, my people, says your God. With a deeply emotional groan of compassion and concern, God repeats the word comfort to emphasize his commitment to those he loves.

Comfort, comfort, says your God. The same word as in Psalm 23: Your rod and your staff comfort me. A profession of faith; your strength, wisdom and love bring me through the dark places.

I understand death as a natural conclusion to life – particularly when the man or woman        is in their eighties or nineties. I also understand people’s inability to love each other and accept each other easily; I have the same problem.

What I’m at a loss to explain is the death of the young, cruelty and inhumanity that causes so much pain and loneliness. I struggle with the reality of mental illness that imprisons young and old alike.

Don’t you?

Yet God’s response to these and every grief is the same –Comfort: let me comfort you, says the Lord. For the Father says: I know all about it: I too lost a son. I feel it too when you hurt and feel alone, discouraged and depressed. Never forget, I am with you;    I will never leave you. Be mad at me if that helps. Yell, cry, get it out, but please then, let us in quiet be quiet together.

God says we never walk alone.

I believe that because I believe God has done what he’s promised. The voice has called out from the wilderness The glory of the Lord was revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

On a Bethlehem night, God’s glory shone offering joy. On a Jerusalem morning   God’s glory was snuffed out, only to re-emerge filling the world. Each year the Advent message is the same: come, see the glory for yourself.

Come and dare to believe that the comforter is here.