Autumn, No Kings, & Christmas Music
Friends and family of LaSalle -
I pray this week finds you enjoying the change in weather, rain and crips air, and colorful leaves all around our city! Today the chilly air for me meant pulling out a shawl for warmth at work, making hot tea to warm my hands and sip on, and turning on Christmas music for the first time as I say at my desk overlooking Wells St. I think there are two kinds of responses to early Christmas music listeners like myself - yes, it's the best time of year, let's get into it and prepare for Advent as soon as possible; and - what are you thinking, it's not even Halloween yet, Christmas music can only be enjoyed for so long. :) While my kids might protest, I proudly come from a long line of early Christmas music listeners, and know that it serves as an indicator for my own spirit each year of one way that I can prepare, wait, and watch for the sacred entering into the ache of our world each Advent.
Autumn is a season of transitions and often, somehow, grief and loss come to the surface this time of year. Parker Palmer describes the season of autumn as corresponding with the spiritual realities of decline, loss, and even melancholy - that also somehow coexist with feeling of acceptance, hope, and waiting for the good that is to come. In "Let Your Life Speak," Palmer writes that often in autumn that we feel a complex mix of grief and gratitude, challenge and opportunity, and must "choose to embrace the paradox of 'hidden wholeness,' rather than fearing the dark or clinging to artificial light." Like the days getting darker, we brace for the coming winter, even as we know the light will return. Like Advent, we prepare for God to enter into the world as a vulnerable infant, but know Jesus will become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Like the kingdom of God, small as a mustard seed, but after being scattered takes root and grows into a large supportive bush - the reign and rule of God has been launched, and is at work giving goodness and power, shelter and food to birds in the branches.
Last Saturday two of our members, Rob Wildeboer and Kathy Neely, helped organize a group of musicians and singers from LSC to set up on a corner of the "No Kings" march downtown to sing protest songs, hymns, and hold signs like "Faith Over Fear" and "Life Every Voice" alongside the thousands of folks at the rally. It was a powerful reminder of how music and creativity, community presence and solidarity, joy and even bubbles can help bring life to a time full of loss and grief! Many marchers stopped to listen, sing along, take videos, or cheer us on; and many of us participating remarked on how energizing it was to join. We joined in proclaiming "No Kings" on earth - while we sang "We shall overcome," relying on the wisdom of the civil rights church leaders who came before us who courageously proclaimed a future of justice and liberation, and reliance on a King who chose the cross, even in their present suffering.
I need these truths to ground me these days, beloved; maybe you do too. Don't fear the dark. Don't cling to artificial light. Remember there is hidden wholeness even in loss and grief. The sacred has left the building and spilled into the world, the kingdom of God is at work and in our midst! Music and bubbles, creativity and joy, they are necessary and they feed us! As our nation wrestles with those who use earthly power and make false claims of kingship, we can look ahead to the truth of a baby named Emmanuel, God with us, who comes to reign not with the sword, but with the power of love, liberation, and justice that will one day set free the whole world!
In our various seasons of grief and loss, we can remind one another to look ahead to life and possibility. And as the temperature and leaves fall all around, we can, if we choose, wrap up to stay warm, grab a hot beverage, and turn on Sufjan Steven's "Songs for Christmas." Thanks be to God for the many ways the light enters in and life grows in the dark. Gratefully - RevLiz