The Journey

Two books arrived on my desk last week reminding me that faith is always and foremost a journey. It’s a journey with a destination. We all have a vivid picture of the journey’s end. The mansion with many rooms Jesus described (John 14: 1-7) is a lovely image. It’s a peaceful and hopeful vision for people who live in a world that’s anything but.

The real task of faith is living and traveling this journey, in the “meantime.” The church exists primarily as a community of travelers sharing each other’s hopes and fears, encouraging and helping one another to live. The church created rituals and symbols to mark the cycles of our lives.

Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before us the pathway of faith for the year ahead. Advent initiates once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole drama of God’s revelation. From the book: The Uncluttered Heart, Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas, Beth A. Richardson, Upper Room Books, Nashville TN.

Richardson’s book is a series of spiritual exercises and devotions designed to take readers on the journey through Advent, leading up to Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Richardson writes:

We come hungry to this season of preparation—hungry for words of life, for rituals of preparation, for disciplines to help us on our way……Advent is often the busiest time of the year. And yet, we are called to make time and space to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ…..No matter how busy we may become, God is waiting to break through our endless tasks and distractions to remind us that we are not alone; indeed, God is present with us in every moment.

The other book is a spiritual and literary biography of Fredrick Buechner. Buechner is one of the more important voices in contemporary theology and literature. Buechner’s heroes and heroines are on the same spiritual journey. In their hopes and dreams, triumphs and tragedies, we find encouragement to live our own lives. Buechner and Richardson have discovered what ancient sages and monks learned. Everywhere and always God is with us, near to us and in us…..

In Advent we continue the journey, with authors like Richardson and Buechner. And with one another as we prepare to celebrate God’s presence in the world and in our lives. Remember, retell, celebrate, open your heart; make room for God’s transforming presence. Christ is coming. Christ is coming. Christ is coming! Thanks be to God!

~Harrell