Advent 2023, Day 9 - Embracing Our Humanity
Embracing Our Humanity
And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid. But the angel said to them, “Listen! Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.” —LUKE 2 :8-14 (MEV)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023
This was no picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy baby announcement. This was real life. The shepherds were probably terrified when shiny beings appeared to them in the middle of the night and started speaking and singing and bossing them around. Jesus was born in a smelly barn, in poverty, with all of the natural, messy details that accompany a birth. Soon, this tiny baby and his family would become immigrants on the run (Matthew 2:13-15). This birth story was complicated, scary, smelly, and not easy. Yet, we often skip past those very human details to only hear the angels singing a song of “good news and great joy.”
As you probably know, one of my constant prayers is “God, let me see things clearly.” This is hard to do when we are taught to look on the bright side, find a silver lining, grin and bear it, or to count our blessings. After all, everyone is supposed to feel joy and gratitude, especially at Christmas. The problem is that we can never find peace if we try to swallow up “bad” emotions or ignore reality. They don’t stay bottled up forever—which could be why we explode over Christmas dinner or snap at the clerk in the check-out line at the grocery store or feel so unsettled as we try to go to sleep every night. This way of living is anything but peaceful for us, for our families, or for that poor grocery store clerk.
True peace comes when we see things clearly, see the whole story, not just the good parts. Jesus’ birth did not deny the human experience but embraced it. Jesus’ humanity was part of the gift of peace and goodwill that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds and for all of us. This Christmas, may we embrace our humanity and the humanity of others, finding a way for peace to reign alongside all the chaos.
READ THIS BLESSING FROM THE LIVES WE ACTUALLY HAVE
for feeling it all (p. 4)
Oh, you beautiful creature, here is your permission slip to feel it all.
To feel the joy and delight and excitement. And the sorrow and fear
and despair.
REFLECT
1. Place a checkmark below if you have ever had a friend, family member, or church tell you one of the following:
□ Look on the bright side
□ Find a silver lining
□ Grin and bear it
□ Fake it til’ you make it
□ Just trust God
□ Big girls don’t cry
□ Give it to God
□ Count your blessings
□ Choose joy
□ Be optimistic
□ Can’t you just be happy?
□ Don’t say that and make it true
□ Start a gratitude journal
□ Don’t worry be happy
□ God always works for the good!
2. Now, think about the things people said that felt more helpful, maybe more empathetic.
3. What emotions have you been pushing aside or bottling up? Are there feelings that you are denying for the sake of Christmas? For the sake of the kids? For the sake of ? How can your willingness to validate, accept, and feel those feelings in a safe way bring more peace to you, your family, and the world this Christmas?
GOING DEEPER
• Psychologist Dr. Susan David is concerned by the way toxic positivity often causes us to bottle up or brood upon our feelings. Susan helps us explore other options for dealing with the fragility of life–listen to her and Kate in this clip, “Toxic Positivity” (7 min).
• Gratitude is not a guaranteed “solution” to the problem of pain or struggle. Listen to Kate explain why she can feel both grateful and rage against forcing people to “brightside” their circumstances in this video (1 min).
• Chris Tomlin and Audrey Assad sing “Winter Snow” (3:32 min). This beautiful song explores the many ways God could have come to earth, yet God chose to embrace humanity.
From "Bless the Advent we Actually Have" by Kate Bowler and The Everything Happens Project