We have a tradition in our family where we wait to buy our Christmas tree until December 24. When we lived in the big city, this was never an issue. But after we moved to semi-rural Western Washington, there was not a tree to be found on December 24 (except the ones growing in our front yard, and yes, we have been tempted). This led to innovation on the part of my family, and we have now embraced a new, improved version of our tradition by finding and bringing in a living tree, which is much easier to find on Christmas Eve. We adapted to our new reality by embracing a new way to do what we have always done. In life and in work, when circumstances demand change, you have to change the WHAT and HOW of what you do — potentially even your most beloved traditions — but never ever the WHY.
The four weeks of Advent are about preparation, making crooked pathways straight, hearing and responding to God’s call, and returning to aligned expectations about who God is and who we are as we live between Jesus’ first Advent and His coming next Advent. We are given an annual opportunity to examine, reflect, and reorient ourselves to the work of the Kingdom and its newborn King. To release old WHATs and HOWs and anchor ourselves in the one, Holy WHY.
This last Sunday, December 17, was the Third Sunday of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” is the Latin word meaning “rejoice,” so the readings for the day pull from places in the Bible where we are reminded to rejoice. This passage from 1 Thessalonians 5 was included this year: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess. 5:16-18 ESV)
For the last 30 years, Masterworks has helped Christian organizations accomplish their missions in the world. Though circumstances are definitely changing the WHAT and HOW we do that, the WHY remains unchanged, and for that I do give great thanks. But…the world is changing fast, and I don’t see that specific circumstance slowing down. Relying on the tried-and-true approaches of the past will not suffice for where we and our ministry partners are called to go. New ideas, new strategies, new ways of serving, and new technologies are needed. We must reevaluate, retool, and reorient to this quickly emerging set of circumstances, and with God’s help, we are. But even if every single part of WHAT and HOW we do things must change, what must never change is WHY we do it.
My prayer in the Christmas season is that God would give each of us the grace to change whatever we must in response to circumstances around us while holding fast to what is good. If we point ourselves again towards the One who pierced the darkness by His Advent among us and remain faithful to follow Him wherever He leads us, then no matter what circumstances may cause us to change the WHAT and HOW, they will never cause us to change the WHY or the WHO we do it for.
Merry Christmas,
Bryan
