October 27, 2004
Another world is possible: this is the message of Advent.
The Bible readings for this season persistently proclaim that
God is present in our world, that God constantly intervenes in
human history to defend the excluded, the brokenhearted, the sinned
against. This is the constant message of Isaiah, the stern prophet.
This is the surprised nighttime acclamation of shepherds outside
Bethlehem. This is the message of Mary, the Jewish girl who dared
to be used by God. This is the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.
The Bible constantly presents us with people who, finding themselves
in desperate circumstances, dare to trust God’s promises,
dare to believe that change is possible. This is the essence of
Advent: God comes to us, God becomes really, truly, flesh-and-blood
present in our midst. God’s presence transforms each of
us; God’s presence transforms our world.
Where is God today? Don’t expect to find God in our consumer
Christmas. Too much frenzy, too little substance. Listen. Watch.
Where people are hurting, where people are longing to hope, God
will be there.
I have sensed God’s presence among the small groups of
women and men served by Cedepca, people that seek to build a common
vision, that seek to build the world imagined by the Creator,
a world where tenderness is possible.
In these groups you’ll find people taking small steps that
reflect what God is doing in their lives. The other day, for example,
I was talking to Maribel about her work as a promoter for “Alternatives
to Violence,” a project of Cedepca’s Women’s
Program. Mari formed part of a group of women who received this
training last year from Kitty Ufford-Chase, a Quaker (you might
have heard of her spouse, Rick, currently serving as PC(USA) moderator).
At the end of the course the women received a special t-shirt.
The front says (in Spanish, of course):
Peaceful Actions Work!
With tongue firmly in cheek, the back of the shirt reads:
10 Reasons to Believe in Non-Violence
10. It’s a great example for other planets.
9. The only weapons I need are in my brain.
8. Non-violence requires courage; you’ve got to think before
you act.
7. It’s the best way to turn an enemy into an ally.
6. It’s terrible to waste a billion bucks a day.
5. Violence scares children.
4. Non-violence leads to disarmament.
3. The way I act shows who I am.
2. Non-violence can be recycled; use it again!
1. If it was good enough for Ghandi, it’s good enough for
me.
Mari tells a couple of stories about her t-shirt:
One day I was on the bus in Guatemala City. A guy, fiftyish,
got on and started staring at my shirt. I noticed he was looking
at me. He sat down behind me and said, “M’am, excuse
me, it’s just that I can’t see all the actions.
Could you stand up so I can read the rest of them?”
At first I felt confused, surprised. “What t-shirt am
I wearing?” I asked myself. But then I stood up and the
man took all the time he needed to read the shirt. He thanked
me. A couple of blocks later I reached my stop and got off.
Another time, I took the boys to soccer practice. Again, I
was wearing the shirt. Another mother said, “Nice shirt.
Mind if I read it?” She did and then asked, “Does
it work for you?” I answered, “Sometimes yes, often
no, but it’s the only way to go.”
The next day at soccer practice, she said, “You know?
I thought about your t-shirt yesterday. I was just about to
hit my son, but I remembered the shirt and talked to him instead.”
Small gestures, small changes. But they demonstrate the real
presence of the God of Life in our lives, especially at this hectic
time called Christmas.
Under the Mercy,
Dennis A. Smith
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
133
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