"... those who build it labour in vain."I had always known about Advent, but never observed it (nor known exactly what it was meant for). Luckily for me, Servant Partners gets pretty excited about Advent.
We kicked off Advent with a retreat to Rivendell - a silent retreat centre on top of a hill on Bowen Island, a 20-minute ferry ride off the coast of West Vancouver. Advent is a time to reflect the "now, but not yet" of Jesus's coming, lamenting and waiting with eager anticipation that He is coming. As Henri Nouwen puts it:
The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior which means “to suffer.” Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants. Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God’s glorious coming. ~.~.~ Acknowledging the desert season of my life, I felt it was fitting that Advent rolled around the corner like this. I was already getting tired of asking God for the same thing over and over again with no response. Getting up the morning after returning from Rivendell, I spoke a three-second prayer: "God, show me where you're already at work today."
I headed off to the First Nations Talking Circle that Rachel and I attend every Wednesday morning. When we got there, I saw two new people - a couple - sitting across from us. Our facilitator asked what topic we'd like to talk about, and the woman across from us said "grief."
I found that Indigenous peoples talk about walking "roads." The black road, the red road, as ways of identifying what people's journeys in life look like. Our facilitator prayed: "We hope our loved ones walk in a good way today."
I had the eagle feather first, and as I introduced myself, I was inclined to say that in my university years, I decided to follow The Jesus Way.
As the feather reached the couple, the woman spoke, and said "Last year, I also decided to follow The Jesus Way," and shared her grief of her uncle's passing a few weeks ago. The man spoke next, and said "When I was 17, I gave my life to Jesus," and led us down his journey of pain and suffering.
So moved by God's answering of my prayer that He would show me where He is already at work, I went up to them to speak with them. They asked, "Where do you fellowship?" so I told them about Strathcona Vineyard. On Sunday, they came out, and after realizing how many connections they had to people at our church that I would've never anticipated, I asked them how the service went. They said: "We've been asking God for a home church, and I think we found it." ~.~.~ Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show to him, so that you may marvel."
God opened my eyes to see what He's already doing. I can have the best vision, the best strategy, that I ask God to bless so I can go work for Him, but it's all in vain. I feel like it's taken me these last four months to finally realize it doesn't work like that. The Lord is building His Kingdom. He doesn't need my help, but he invites me to be part of it, so that I can marvel at His great works. In my witnessing of what God's already doing, it compels me to submit my aspirations, desires, fears, and doubts to Him who has the power to build the house. In seeing His wonders and signs, it compels me to draw closer to the One who offers an easy burden and a light yoke.
This is but a taste of the glorious coming of the King. Like our housemate who is starting to pray with us in the morning and check our church. Or the youth who, on her own accord, came up to apologize for hurting me (physically). Our talking circle facilitator who admitted he hated the Church, but now is open to explore the Christian faith because of our latest talking circle with the couple.
Just a taste, reminding us the fullness of the Kingdom is yet to come. But it's coming - and we wait hopefully, patiently. ~.~.~ Last update, I was so thankful and encouraged by those who reached out and expressed their own desert seasons and prayer requests. I'm grateful for the ways we can support one another and commune together in our joys and sufferings.
Please pray for:
1. The increased number of overdoses in our neighbourhood. Fentanyl, and now carfentanyl, is ravaging our streets and emergency pop-up safe injection sites have been initiated to save as many lives as possible. First responders and hospitals are strained with the influx. Please pray protection over those who are using on the streets, the health practicioners who are responding to the crisis, and all levels of government to legislate institutional support.
2. Us to reach our collective collective intern class goal of meeting 200 people in our community. We're about three-quarters there, with three days to go. It's not the end of the world if we don't meet our goal, but we'd like to believe God will lead people to us to meet. These relationships will hopefully grow and develop however God wants to use them.
3. Me, to be rooted daily in the belief that God is already at work around me, and to be given vision to see that.
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