This year has brought us tears and sorrow
Watching our world, like the very ground beneath us tremble with fear racism death hate
So many questions without answers
So many mothers who have had to bury their children
We cannot unplpug from the noise of news
Our world is being torn at its seams by the tug of war
Finding it difficult to make or keep peace
The fight for human rights
The fear of disease
The violence of militants, lives are being snuffed and stolen
Typhoons, airstrikes, open fire
This year nearly 300 girls were kidnapped in Nigera while getting an education
And most of them have still not returned home
The protests in Venezuela, china, mexico, Ukraine are the same as the protests happening in New York, Atlanta, Furguson
Our cities and towns are at an unrest
As we wrestle with the violence of lone gunmen, immigration, race relations
As we watch our neighborhoods turn into war zones, we don't hear the wounds
We just take sides and divide to find our "us" so we can accuse "them"
We have stopped listening
We find ourselves with angry fists in what is supposed to be the season of giving
There have been breaches in our confidence and trust
We have lost our ability to mourn with those who mourn
To see injustice with disgust
#Bringbackourgirls
Ebola
Ice bucket challenge
#I cant breathe
Why I stayed
Renisha mcbride
Occupy hong kong
#Black lives matter
Gaza under attack
Yes all women
#Breakthe internet
Take down that post
Mh370
#Prayforsouthkorea
Mh17
Hands up don't shoot
Until our souls need a cease fire
Sometimes it's hard to light the candle and drink the tinsel
When Christmas seems to not unwrap gifts but wounds
Reminding us of the people we've lost
Of the things that have been stolen
Of despair of grieving
The kind of sadness a Christmas carol can't seem to shake
And what do we do with this baby?
This savior whose arrival had no celebrity, no red carpet, no paparazzi
Just mary and joseph, and manger animals
And stars to lead wise men
What does this Jesus have to do with our brokenness and wounds?
What does he have to say when the plotlines of our lives don't wrap up neatly like a Christmas tune?
This Jesus is not just a baby.
He is the radical revolutionary who came to do the saving
Who spoke uncomfortable truth to the narrow minded religious
Who turned over tables for justice
Who used his voice to speak for children, orphans, widows
Who became freedom for the oppressed, yes
He wanted us to know peace so badly he sacrificed himself.
So we could realize we are not us vs. them
We are us with Him
Us, who want to walk in love and serve like Him
Fight against injustice and poverty with him
Let's listen to those who are hurting
Mourn with those who are weeping
Let's do what we hear the angels singing
For love for peace for goodwill for all humanity this Advent
May jesus teach a weary world and our weary souls to fight for justice
And someday live in peace