Seeking Hope and Peace

I’m late in writing again. Perhaps being a bit unpredictable is a good thing. I’ve been reminded of the importance of self-care in the busy season of Advent and to be gentle with myself as I am feeling complex emotions. Perhaps you are too.

Last Sunday I preached on how we need to be ones bringing hope, as we are able, to a world in need. Next Sunday we will be lighting the candle of peace. Today my facebook feed and e-mail inbox were full of messages about the anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre, the continued bombing of Gaza and the steadily climbing and appalling death toll, with so many being children and so many injured and forced to flee. Also featured was green-washing and lobbying by oil and gas companies at the COP 28 summit as our environment deteriorates at a steadying rate and as Indigenous activists are slaughtered to ensure that companies can mow down the Amazon to keep making more of their products. Yesterday at a local high school, police were called to a weapons incident, inciting fear in the neighbourhood as officers patrolled with rifles for hours and students were in lockdown.

It’s hard to write about hope and peace when so much is wrong at the moment. It’s hard to not just weep and give up when leaders at all levels of government and industry refuse to do what is right, protecting economic interests and big business over the safety and dignity of the people they were elected to serve. Covid is surging again and our woefully under-funded health and education systems are crumbling prompting a campaign to privatize by some political parties. I could go on and on, but you probably know all of this already and are just as weary as I am. Add to that personal grief and the needs of friends and those we serve in our ministries and it’s a recipe for burnout, anxiety and insomnia, as well as despair.

I don’t know how many of you are close to hitting that point and how many are finding this Advent season no more stressful than others and have it well in hand. But for those who are struggling, besides doing the things we know we need to do - turning to God in prayer and scripture, getting time outside and hopefully a bit of sunshine, exercise to keep things moving in our systems and brains, drinking plenty of water, prioritizing sleep and eating good, whole foods instead of reaching for more baking and chips - I would like to suggest some other things for surviving this time.

Particularly for those of us who are leaders, we can feel like we have to manage on our own and not admit to struggling. What colleagues can you pray with and tell that everything is not okay? Rather than feeling guilt for adding one more thing to their list, who can you just ask to pray for you? Who has space to hear a bit of what is challenging you at the moment? Sometimes so much has piled up that we miss seeing easy solutions. A good friend can help us to look at things from a different perspective or just hear us out so that we can find the answer ourselves. Sharing appropriately with your leadership team (they don’t need to know all the details) and asking for prayer and support and picking up some slack will remind them that you aren’t the Messiah and that you are a team and they have gifts to share to help.

It can be challenging to find that fine line of how many extras are reasonable to do and will bring me energy rather than taking it from already depleted stocks. As an artsy type, attending a community concert or play (especially with acquaintances rather than people I serve who may want a pastoral conversation) tends to inspire and rejuvenate me. I’m carefully weighing how much I can give in terms of volunteering and serving that will refill my compassion gas tank and not drain me. Charitable events and outreach projects will not fail because I opt out this year. People will understand if I choose a quiet night at home rather than one more event on the calendar.

For us to experience hope and peace and share it with those we love and serve requires us to carve out that elusive time to seek and bask in it ourselves. When it’s hard to find because of all the chaos in the world and in our hearts, we are reminded that Jesus came for this reason. We are reminded that we do indeed need a Saviour, a Messiah, God-with-us, Who pulls us out of the pit of despair we may find ourselves in. He knew grief and abandonment, pain and suffering, betrayal and exhaustion, hunger and opposition. He gets what we are experiencing and is waiting for us to come and sit at His feet and let Him love on us. He isn’t just a perfect baby in a manger but the One who saves us.

My prayer as we continue to move through Advent is that you will experience Christ even as you prepare to tell the story again at Christmas. I pray that you will see Him in colleagues, family or friends that care about you and will pray for you and lift you up. I pray that you will see Him in those in need who remind you of your own blessings and how much you have to share. I pray that you will see Him guiding your responses to the pain around you, protecting and restoring you as you serve. And I pray that you will find time to rest in His goodness and grace and know the hope and peace that pass all understanding. Shalom.