Humbug to Hallelujah: Reawakening the Joy

The focus of Week 2 of our Advent Celebration - reawakening the joy inherent in Christmas.


Joy is central to the Christmas story.

Read what the angel had to say to the shepherds about joy.


Like the shepherds, Mary had a frightening or troubling encounter with an angel's message. But she received the message, and ultimately responded with a song joy:

LUKE 2:46-47. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Read the entire Song of Mary here.


Christmas always results in a powerful stirring of memories - all of us have memories that are both bitter and sweet.

Scrooge's transformation involved three night visitors - the first was Christmas Past. He was reminded of times of hurt - old wounds from his childhood - but he also saw visions of past joy - the fanciful Christmas ball where he danced into the night.


Reawakening the joy inherent in Christmas will mean both being realistic about old memories as well as making new memories. You are not alone - Jesus is with you!

Allow Christ to help you:

• Focus on memories that bring joy! Don't ignore the bitter memories. But don't allow them to "hog the stage!" Thank God every day for joyful memories!
• Transform those memories that are painful. George Morrison has said, "It is the glory of Christianity that it has a message for your past." No matter what has been, Christ has the power to make all things new.
• Find a fellow pilgrim. Just as Mary shared her journey with Elizabeth, God can provide you pilgrims to make the journey less lonely and more meaningful.

(Before she sang her song of praise, following the visitation of the angel, Mary traveled to be with her kinswoman Elizabeth - read about that encounter here).


THOUGHTS:

"Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." - Westminster Confession of Faith

"Grimness is not a Christian virtue. There are no sad saints. If we have not joy, we have missed the heart of the Good News, and our bodies as much as our souls will suffer the consequences." - Bruce Larson


"TEACH ME TO DANCE," a poem by Greg Asimakoupoulos

Lord, I hear the band playing the waltz of your grace
In toe-tapping three-four time.
But here I am, with my life out of rhyme, hiding in the shadows.
While other twirl and spin and turn on a dime,
All I seem to be able to do is mark time with my flat, unhappy feet.
But you are not content to let me cower in the corner.
You hold out your hand to me as if to say, "They're playing our song!"
Oh, God, deep inside I knew there was a chance that you'd ask me to dance.
But here I stand. I can do no other. That is of course
Unless you sweep me off my feet with memories of happier times.
Moments in my memory that flood my heart with innocent joy.
The simple wonder that the baby laid in crude wooden manger
Was a parcel of love just for me. Lord, teach me to dance once again.


SOME POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS:

• Make a list of moments during 2007 when God blessed you in a special way. Keep that list before you this season.
• Block out times during December when you will be available to family or friends for creating new joyful memories!
• Remember someone who may be having a difficult December. Ask God to reveal something you might do to help bring them unexpected joy!

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Ordinary holiday practices, which often focus on secular expectations, tend to leave us disappointed and depleted. Like Scrooge, we need to revisit the times when we experienced holy, festive moments. Then, to be transformed, we should start building memories that will reawaken Christmas joy, not only for this season but for many years to come.

• Think back—what warm Christmas memories can you recall?

• Now, what activities are you planning that you hope will be remembered fondly from this year’s celebration?

• What new activity or custom could you initiate this Christmas to reawaken joy in you and your loved ones (e.g., the weekly home candlelighting ceremony)?

• What might help you rejoice anew in the miracle of Christ’s coming to earth?

• See pages 30–31 in the Devotional Calendar for more help in reawakening the joy inherent in Christmas.

MAKE THIS YOUR PRAYER:

Lord, I sense you are inviting me to dance. You know that there are moments when the season is no longer special. I may be tired, hurt or bound by the past. But Christmas is unique because you came in the flesh, and that event is cause for rejoicing. You want to reawaken the joy of Christ's incarnation in my heart.

So I accept your invitation to the dance of Christmas joy. Now go before me and help me this week, as I recreate happy memories. In the name of the Christ - who was, is, and evermore shall be. Amen.