You are seen, known, and remembered
We are the helpers, truth tellers, healers, and bridge builders
Hello friends,
For those who celebrate Advent, I hope you’re hunkering down in the waiting and finding yourself taking deep breaths of hope in the middle of the realities you’re facing. We are not lighting candles this year but we are mindful of the season and thankful for the time-out in the consumerism of American Christmas.
For those who do not celebrate or practice the Christian faith, I’m thankful you’re here with us. At one point in my life, I thought I’d write books in that genre for a long time. But after two, I realized I was a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. You can’t even say one swear word and I ended up being quite miserable in that zone. I hope you’ll allow me to share that part of my life with you today.
As I think about the times we are living in, nearly every sector of society is transitioning into the future — we are evolving, painfully so, and that reminded me of this little pocket in my book.
Before it begins, I want to say that I’m glad that God came through chaos. I’m sure he could have ridden a cloud with majestic angels by his side but God chose a young, soon-to-be-married woman, displaced in her labor, but willing to love. This is a time when we remember Mother Mary and her great sacrifice. I want you to know that you are seen and known and remembered in yours. Blessing you this Christmas Season.
Thanks for letting me share this little bit with you.
Sometimes, on the heels of great transition, we survey the rubble of devastation, of our loss, and it’s easy to feel helpless or even hopeless.
The tension in the transition from what was to what will be can be crushing. The first step in remembering hope is returning to ordinary, small things, because in chaos there is opportunity. We do what we know to do and trust God to meet us in the middle of it all. And I do want to tell you that, most of the time, trusting God and carrying on with the daily, small decisions of life don’t result in some big rescue or removal from the situation we don’t want to be in, but God will help us see his grace and goodness and see ourselves and others through the lens of hope.
In our ordinary moments, we can begin identifying times in the canker sore of chaos for us to be a truth teller, a healer, a lover of humanity. To spread peace and grace, kindness, and truth. To believe that the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 61:1–4), which Jesus quoted as his first message in the temple, saying, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21 NIV), are still for us today.
We might not have everything, but in Christ, no matter the hell around us, we have good news to hear and proclaim. Our broken hearts are healed; we are set free; we have his favor. We receive beauty for our ashes, joy for our mourning, praise in- stead of our despair. We have purpose. We can rebuild, repair, and renew our lives and our communities; break free from the generational mindsets and history we may have been born into; and recognize the opportunity we have to change, to grow, and to care for and promote the marginalized in our midst—right in the middle of our chaos.
We are neither helpless nor hopeless. We are the helpers, the truth tellers, the healers, and the bridge builders.
We can’t do everything, but we can do the next thing, whatever it is, in front of us right now. Faithful in the small things. One step at a time. One day at a time.
Make a meal. Bake cookies for a neighbor. Buy groceries for a family. Look every person who serves you in the eye. Introduce yourself to someone. Speak up in that meeting. Tell your mom you love her. Call your friend. Hug a person who needs it. Serve at a local nonprofit. Host a book club in your home. Run a marathon. Take a Pilates class. Buy some shoes. Call your senators. Go on a pilgrimage. Sing a song. Write the next chapter. Pitch that pilot. Ask good questions over dinner. Share your greatest fear.
I don’t know what’s next for you, but I do know that you are well able to carry it out; so rise and get after it, my friend, with grace and gusto.
You can order Rise of the Truth Teller or my second book Love Is the Resistance (which once received a one-star review from someone who said, “if you are a patriot, do not read this book,” which I consider highest praise).
Another beautiful and touching piece Ashely. Thank you. I particularly like d this;
The tension in the transition from what was to what will be can be crushing. We do what we know to do and trust God to meet us in the middle of it all