The Christmas Season comes at a good time. As we approach the shortest day of the year and temperatures stay near or below freezing for days at a time, the Christmas spirit reminds us that there is joy in the world.
This reminder doesn’t affect everyone the same way, which is one reason there are so many versions of Hallmark Christmas movies. Some of us, the lucky ones, can get into the spirit and feel the joy of Christmas from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day. Some fall on the opposite side of the emotional scale, dreading a holiday filled with feelings of loneliness and despair.
Most of us likely fall somewhere in between, with each year being different from the last. And with some welcomed changes and a few differences, we would rather not happen.
I suspect a lot depends on how connected we feel. Are we surrounded by family and friends? Are we regularly with others with whom we feel emotionally connected?
In an article for Psychology Today, Dr. Dianne Grande explains that emotional connections are based on three critical questions. The first question is, “Are you accessible to me?” In other words, am I important enough to you to get your attention when I need it?
And when I do get your attention, are you responsive to me? When I’m anxious, sad, lonely, or afraid, will you comfort me? Last, and perhaps most important, are we engaged in each other’s lives enough that you seem to know what brings me comfort and joy when I’m afraid or feel hurt?
The more connected we feel to others, the more likely the Christmas Season brings us joy as we look forward to celebrating the holidays.
An often-used expression among Christians is the phrase, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” While the clever rhyme and meaning-packed implication help these words to easily roll off the tongue, what this means for each of us also varies.
The expression has both historical and practical limits. Historically, Christians co-opted a secular holiday celebrating the winter solstice. Practically, giving and receiving gifts with persons we’re emotionally connected to grabs much more of our attention than the birth of Jesus. After all, Jesus may not have actually been born on December 24.
How we live out this expression, however, has a lot to do with our emotional connection with Jesus. That is, how does our connection with Jesus answer the three questions posed by Dr. Grande?
Jesus often quoted from the Book of Isaiah, and the prophecies contained in it tell us a lot about God’s promise of a Messiah. Among the most significant is the first of four poems, known as the Songs or Poems of the Servant. Throughout the centuries, the church has claimed this text as one of the many prophecies pointing to Jesus Christ as the long-awaited Messiah.
The poems were likely written for a fractured community. The community, with one part living in style along the banks of the Euphrates River, although held in Babylonian exile. The others were still living in the neighborhood and were struggling just to scratch out a meager living.
Those who were taken away by the Babylonians and no longer part of the neighborhood managed quite well. Despite their captivity, they were free to pursue a reasonable living and, for the most part, to come and go as they pleased.
Meanwhile, those living in the neighborhood struggled in the aftermath of the war. Vandals had plundered the land, leaving the residence little to work with. The neighborhood was devastated economically and spiritually.
It was as though God had abandoned them altogether, or at least it seemed that there were other gods in control of their destiny with more power and influence than the God that they had known as children.
This description should also sound familiar. Scripture is unique in its relevance to all generations. Whenever we feel disconnected from the familiar, disoriented by our surroundings, and devastated by struggle, we hope for good news.
Here is my servant… He will not lose hope or courage. He will establish justice on the earth.
Isaiah 42:1:9
Advent can be a time of reflecting on the good news of Jesus Christ. We need only allow the Spirit of God to work in our imagination and hearts.
This Sunday begins the Season of Advent. The subtitle of our companion book for our Advent Series suggests that we can approach Advent as an adventure. One way to do this is to work on our emotional connection with Jesus. Pastor Dawn Darwin Weak’s book of daily devotions can help by helping us spend a few minutes each day practicing the expression, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
Advent reminds us of God’s promise that suffering never has the last word. In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, suspense builds both by the wrapped gifts under trees to be revealed when Christmas arrives and by allowing ourselves to remember the greatest gift of all, which began in stark conditions among livestock. Jesus spent His first night sleeping in a feeding trough as the world waited in anticipation of being fed.
Whether you choose to read Pastor Dawn’s book of devotions, The Upper Room, or some other collection, spend a little time each day connecting or reconnecting with Jesus Christ during Advent this year. Perhaps you’ll arrange five candles, lighting one as the first week begins as you begin your time of connecting. Light the same one again as the second week begins and add one more. By Christmas Eve, you’re ready to light the last candle and spend some quiet time in the glow of all five candles.
Pastor Dawn offers a short devotion just for this purpose, and there are plenty of free options available online.
Advent is an adventure for all who open their hearts to connecting with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
You can join us each Sunday in person or online by clicking the button on our website’s homepage –Click here to watch. This button takes you to our YouTube channel. You can find more information about us on our website at FlintAsburyChurch.org.
A reminder that we publish this newsletter that we call the Circuit Rider each week. You can request this publication by email. Send a request to FlintAsburyUMC@gmail.com or let us know when you send a message through our website. We post an archive of past editions on our website under the tab Connect – choose Newsletters.
Pastor Tommy
Parts of our series are inspired by the Reverend Dawn Darwin Weak. Daring to Connect: Advent as Adventure. Danvers, MA: Chalice Press, 2024.
Dr. Dianne Grande. “Emotional Connection.” © Psychology Today, September 22, 2017. Retrieved from: link