Dear Everyone,
We are embarking on the second week of Advent. I’ve really enjoyed the first week of readings from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “God is in the Manger,” along with your comments. Thank you for reading with me and for sharing your thoughts. I think of Advent, like Lent, as a kind of journey and I’m very grateful to you for journeying with me.
This week, I was struck again by Bonhoeffer’s wisdom. His reflections are always insightful, but this week his examination of both waiting and silence caught my attention. I am notoriously impatient and have been so my entire life. (The Professor and I share this attribute) Bonhoeffer reminds us that to be a Christian is to wait. At this point in our history, we live between the resurrection and the New Jerusalem. We live in gratitude and in hope, but there is much that is “not yet.” And so we must wait. We must be patient, even as we are impatient with suffering, tragedy, war, and death.
Bonhoeffer also meditates on silence: “Silence ultimately means nothing but waiting for God’s word and coming away blessed by God’s word.” This remark struck me, particularly in its relation to waiting. The more impatient I am, the more I have to say. But when I’m impatient or cross, I’m not listening. Bonhoeffer observes that the silence of the Christian is a “listening silence.” At least, it should be.
We wait in hope. We listen in silence. We have faith the time will come and so will the answers. And in the meantime, we are part of a wide and generous community of fellow travellers who wait and listen with us and to us. Let’s be sure to remember one another in our prayers, and let’s also remember those in our community who are ill.
Peace be with you all. I welcome your comments below.
May your Advent continue to be blessed,
SR
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
My times are in your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Psalm 31.
It’s so true, we talk about silence, about difficult times and nostalgia for the past. Reflect on countries at war, persecution and the lack of understanding between human beings. There are so many language barriers and sometimes it’s difficult for the message not to be lost. It’s so far from our time and the author’s reviews today are still timeless. Excellent week friends.
My reflection for day one of week two, i don’t if I’m making sense or way off the mark. Advent this year is a love hate relationship for me.
Thank you SR
Week 2
Day one
We have become a society who wants to
have everything instantly while wearing blinders. We confuse childlike with childish.
Some in society make fun of others that never loose their childlike Joy & not only believe in the mystery but also question & seek it. Adults miss so much by not following Children’s Joy & wonder for they believe & love others for who they & not hate because they are different.
Most people, including myself, struggle with impatience. This is further amplified by the fast-paced world we live in. It’s shocking to see how incapable we are of waiting… and it’s not necessarily about waiting for years, but often for months, weeks, days, hours, or sometimes even just minutes. We want everything instantly—the escape from our difficult situations, the solutions, the answers to our questions, or even the good things and experiences in our lives. But God has a plan for all of this. In order to receive them, we must go through a process—a journey that allows us to grow, especially if we walk it with Him.
I think impatience, to some degree, is contagious. If we’re surrounded by this atmosphere, we tend to become more impatient ourselves. This self-perpetuating cycle steals our peace, and keeps us from focusing on what truly matters: God’s promises, hope, and faith. As Christians, we have a great responsibility to set an example. Are we contributing to the rush, turmoil, and impatience of the world, or are we bringing peace and hope to those around us?
As I mentioned, I’m not a patient person, but I carry within me the uplifting memories of the times in my life when I had to wait for something. Waiting was never easy for me, but I must say that looking back at it all, every minute of it was worth it. Obviously, God could give us the answers sooner, but would that truly serve our benefit, and would we even hear them? Waiting with a focus on God is a process of quieting ourselves, of becoming more open, which enables us to be ready to truly hear His voice. And everything that we have to wait a long time for becomes much more precious to us, much more imprinted on us, and brings us much deeper joy or a greater feeling of liberation.
Thank You to SR and everyone who commented.Impatience is something I struggle with.God’s timing is perfect.🙏💙