Finding Faith ... in Advent season

EDITOR'S NOTE: Since becoming the clergy leader at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn., in November 2017, I've written a monthly column for our church newsletter. This column originally published in the December 2018 FLC Newsletter.

First off, let me officially say thank you to everyone for your generous gifts to support the special offering taken up to help Shelley and I pay for my tuition bill for this year at Luther Seminary. We are awe struck by your generosity and we are proud to be considered part of your faith family. … Both with a small and a capital “Faith!”

Thanks to your gifts, I will be able to attend all of this fall semester, the week-long course in January and then all of spring semester in 2019 without having to take out a loan for any of those three sessions. And if you consider that I also won’t have to pay interest on those loans I didn’t have to take out, the positive impact on our family is truly remarkable.

We wish we had something more than just our words to thank you, but in light of having nothing better we offer you our deep gratitude for your financial gifts, but more importantly, for welcoming our family to Faith Lutheran. We are so proud to be part of this wonderful tradition! Fourteen months ago, I could never have imagined how this all would have turned out, but now I can’t imagine serving anywhere else! … Blessings to you all this Advent season! … Devlyn, Shelley, Garrett, Carter, Ava and Siri

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Speaking of Advent season … can you believe that it is already almost upon us? Advent officially begins a brief eight days from now and will end on Dec. 24.

And just like that our already busy lives will be turned on their heads by increased pressures: school holiday concerts and programs, the church Sunday school program, winter sports seasons, holiday parties with our friends and at work, Christmas present shopping and wrapping, holiday baking, maybe some volunteering thrown in there. … Whew! Are you tired already? … And whoosh this Advent season will go sailing by us before our very eyes! … It’s both the joy and the curse of our sped-up lifestyles in 2018.

It is just so hard to just hit the breaks, isn’t it? … I mean there are all of those expectations! Both the ones of our friends and loved ones, and not to mention the ones we place on ourselves!

But it’s times such as these that it is imperative that we remember God’s principle of the Sabbath. After all, I’m sure that the creator of heaven and earth was a tad busy in those opening days of his creation as well. But what did He do anyway? … Yes, we all know this: On the seventh day He rested!

Today, I’m not writing specifically here about resting just on Sundays. I’m thinking more about the concept of Sabbath, which essentially is the commandment to rest. To enjoy a down moment here and there. To seriously embrace God’s call for us to enjoy his creation as much as we work to be stewards of it as well. … Sabbath is about balance and living a rounded life. And a rounded life includes rest and play and relaxation.

So as we plow ahead into yet another Advent season together, I encourage you to just stop and breathe it all in here and there. Enjoy those shopping days with your kids even despite the chaos of the shopping stores. Focus on the giving and not the getting. Be present at those school and Sunday school programs. And I mean really present, mentally as well as physically. Take your time decorating the house for Christmas, and get your kids involved. … Make a new Christmas tradition this year, and really truly appreciate an old Christmas tradition, as well.

And most of all, I encourage you take some time to just dwell in this Advent season. Think about that miracle that happened some 2,000 years ago in that small little desert town, amidst some of the most unlikely people you could ever imagine. And also spend some time thinking about what that miracle means for us yet still today.

I get it. There’s a lot to do. … Trust me: I know! … But I hope that you take some time to also truly appreciate why we do it all. … After all, this is a direct order from our Holy Father: Practice some Sabbath this Advent season. He expects it!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all!