Every year, Advent both refreshes my heart and challenges me anew. In choosing to follow the Way of Christ, I have accepted an invitation to live my life according to a value system that diverges at many points from society. Much of the hard work of Christ-followership is centered on the spaces where the Kingdom and culture diverge. It takes assiduous intentionality to identify those divergences and courageous action to push back against the norms of society. It is the challenge of this dynamic that endears Advent to me. This season encourages me to reevaluate my life with humble eyes. It re-focuses me on Kingdom values and calls me to move against the drift of culture.

One of the beautiful themes woven into the Advent season is a call to awaken. It is an invitation to reject passive drowsiness and engage in places of tension. I feel there are so many dynamic forces in this country that invite me to numb-out. I am daily faced with an exhausting cacophony of toxic news, soul-draining busy work, and stressors in the work place. None of this includes the heart work of remaining present to my spouse and my children throughout each day. North American culture offers me a cornucopia of assorted salves to soothe my stresses, distract me from my anxieties, or soften any hint of depression. I have access to nearly limitless movies and shows to binge watch, a tantalizing buffet of over-processed foods and sugary drinks. In addition, many activities which are esteemed as wholesome (usually with merit) can also conceal a destructive escapism: reading books, hobbies, and doing house chores. The anesthetic effect of this last group is none the less potent and perhaps their positive appearance is what makes awakening from them particularly tricky. Whatever characterizes your preferred brand of soul somnolence, we are all prone to some degree of it.

Advent calls me to confess (again!) my frailty and inability to improve myself. My heart so often slumbers, unaware of my need for the Spirit of Christ to enliven me. I need help to reveal to me my own blindness! I cannot shine Light on my somnolence. I cannot wake myself up. So, here is a prayer I have adopted for this Advent season:

Holy Spirit, I cannot see myself clearly. I know that I am capable of living unaware of planks in my own eye. I cannot see what I cannot see. How can I hope to see my own blindness? Spirit of Christ, I need you. I invite you to reveal truth to me. Unveil my eyes to see where you want me to wake up this Advent season.          

            Rescue me, Lord, from "crappy little bits of leisure time confetti"*

            Rescue me, Lord, from reactionary living

            Rescue me, Lord, from escaping when you call me to engage

            Rescue me, Lord, from pursuing impressive productivity when you call me to rest

In your eternal gentleness, Gracious Father, teach me to be gentle with myself as my eyes begin to open. 

Amen.

Reflection and prayer by:
JOEL WATSON

Artwork by:
ROONEY ONG JING REN
www.rooneyojr.com

* Schulte, Brigid. Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time. New York: Sarah Crichton Books, 2014.