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Advent Playlist

The Peace of Truth

What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. —EPHESIANS 4:25 (MSG, A PARAPHRASE)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023

Don’t you love it when you open a gift on Christmas morning and think, oh you really, really shouldn’t have, but out of politeness and gratitude you say, “I love it!” Maybe we have learned to perfect the art of the half-truth. But perhaps our dishonesty to keep everyone comfortable has come at a steep cost. The cost of being known and of knowing one another. How many times have you answered “How are you?” with, “Great!” or “Fine!” or “Busy!” while, in fact, you know you’re barely holding it all together? Or actually could use a friend? Or you don’t want to come across as needy?

Maybe today, we can take a note out of Jesus’ book, instead. Jesus came to earth as a human, so that he could echo back our story. So that he could hear our prayers and say, “Same. I get it.” Jesus has loved and lost (John 11:1-44). Jesus has cried and been frustrated (Luke 19:41- 44). Jesus felt alone and forgotten (Matthew 27:46). Jesus wanted things to change and knew that they couldn’t (Luke 22:42, “Lord, take this cup”). Jesus understands the fragility of being human and didn’t try to hide it. He was honest with his friends about how he felt and what he was going through. Jesus’ prayers were honest and true.

Maybe peace starts with the courage to share the truth with someone and to hear them echoing back to you a clear and resounding “same,” or an “oh yeah, me too!” A peace in knowing we are never, ever alone.

READ THIS BLESSING FROM THE LIVES WE ACTUALLY HAVE

for truth-telling–however bitter or sweet (p. 28)

Blessed are you, the truth-teller. And what a miracle it is when your candor finds a chorus that echoes back: “Same.”

The friend who will hear it. The parent who will stomach it. The partner who doesn’t roll their eyes.

They hear you, and it feels like a revelation.

Every. Time.

REFLECT

1. What is your truth that you need to speak to someone today?

2. How can sharing your truth help release you from the isolation and loneliness that half-truths create?

3. What is like to have someone in your life who understands and has felt your truth in their own ways? What does it feel like to know that Jesus has experienced your reality as well?

GOING DEEPER

• Let’s Talk! Realizing that we have not been honest with either ourselves or with our friends is a hard reality to face. Often, we have very good reasons that we created a half-truth, usually to protect ourselves, to protect our friends, or to protect our relationships. But half-truths don’t help build full-relationships. Honesty builds relationships. So think of one or two safe people you have in your world that can handle the truth about your life and how you feel. Write down the names of those two people and set a time to talk to them.

• “Your Peace will Make Us One” by Audrey Assad (3:40 min) is set to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic ” emphasizing how God might be marching us to truth.

• Maybe you are the person who is very honest about how you feel and maybe a bit of an over-sharer (like me!). Perhaps, there is someone you have crossed paths with lately that needs to hear your story, your truth, so that they know they are not alone. If you have the courage to share your story, then maybe they can say, “me too!” And that would be enough to bring more peace to their world. Can you think and pray about someone who needs to hear your story and set a time to share it with them? Or sometimes I pray, “Lord, if you need me to talk to this person, present a time and space.”

• Writer Kelly Corrigan was sharing her “crappies” from the past year with Kate, and shared this bit of wisdom: when we share our real stories, it allows our friends to have “more of you in our hearts.” Listen to “Cheers to the Crappies” (4 min).

From "Bless the Advent we Actually Have" by Kate Bowler and The Everything Happens Project