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Letters from the Land of Advent - Called to Serve

For the Christian, Advent is about answering God's call and responding to God's movements in the world.  The stories leading up to Jesus' birth prove this.  Over and over again, God moves in such a way as to illicit a response, to awaken, and to call to action.

Zechariah is summonsed by God in the heart of the Temple to step into a holy role of being a father, and not just any father - the father of a prophet.

Likewise, Mary and Joseph and Elizabeth all in their turn, are called to respond to God's good news entering the world.  Each of them is shocked in their own way, but no matter.  God simply announces and invites.  Each can refuse.  Each can turn his or her back upon God's call, but that won't change the plan.  God will raise up instruments and vessels and servants to make sure that this work is done, and it won't be long before the shepherds and the magi join the team.

All of this has me thinking of service in this season leading up to Christmas.  Christmas can quickly become what we're feeling or what things we have left to do or how we're possibly going to fit everything in before Dec. 25th.  But, the value of Advent is how it reframes everything through the lens of discipleship and service.

The question is not, "how am I going to get everything done?"

Or even ... "how am I feeling?"

The question becomes, "where is God at work in the world, and how can I be of service today?"

This frees us up to enter every day as a willing agent, ready to say like Mary said, "let it be to me according to your will."

Am I called today to be there for my family and do the little things around the house like that pile of laundry lying in the corner?

So be it.  Let it be to me according to your will.

Am I being called to love my students in my classroom in even deeper ways, despite fewer resources, more red tape, and the heartache of broken homes?

So be it.  Let it be to me according to your will.

Am I called to love my coworker and seek to build him up even though he is getting on my nerves?

So be it.  Let it be to me according to your will.

I've been reading a biography on John Calvin this week by T. H. L. Parker from the 1950's, and one of the surprising reminders is how God's call upon Calvin was very much like it was for Mary and Joseph ... and Jesus … and Peter … and Paul … and for any of us who are called to take up our crosses in our pursuit of the way of Christ.

Calvin's mind was amazing, and his ability to study, read and write veracious.  And if he had his druthers, he would have spent his days in a spacious library or study, devouring the great works of antiquity and Christianity.  And he probably would have still led a very productive life.

But, that was not God's plan for him.  Geneva was.

Geneva, as beautiful as that Swiss city is today, was not doing so well when Calvin was first called to the place.  It was struggling with a great deal of civic challenges, not the least of which were political infighting, issues with the city trash collection, and low morale throughout.  Geneva was - quite simply - full of frustration.

It was not Calvin's desire to stay in such a place.  He practically begged to get out of there as fast as he could.  But, a dear friend and mentor reminded him that one can't easily escape God's call.  Well, we can, but only like Jonah, the friend said.  Only in such a way that we'll be truly miserable and crestfallen.

So, Calvin stayed.  He preached and did the hard work of church governance.  He took to task the parts of Geneva's leadership structure that had become unhealthy and unholy.  He labored at the work he was good at and gifted to do:  to expound and explain the Scriptures to the people.

And he did it all while living at number 11, Rue Des Chanoines, a decently-sized home for he, his wife, his daughter, and his brother's family.  Calvin's workdays were not spent in the luxury of a spacious library.  He probably wrote many sermons with the sounds of lunch being prepared and children crying.

I doubt Calvin had many "peaceful" Christmases in Geneva.

But, he was faithful.

He served and labored in the vineyard God had created for him.

He kept at the plow handed to him by his Master.

He took up his cross.

He served.

May God make clear to us what He longs for us to do … and may we do it readily this Advent season.

~Wes

   

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