An End, A Beginning and inspiration for the Journey
At this time of year, with only a few days of school left, student reports have been sent, class parties are in full swing, and admin and management are busy wrapping up as well as making plans for next year. The slow starting Term 4 is now nearly over, the school year is hurtling towards its last day, students have ‘switched off’, and an exhausted group of teachers are looking forward to a well-earned rest.
An End
At this time of year, on many Church billboards, etc, we see the sign
“Jesus is the reason for the season”
Christmas time, while being a wonderful celebration of our Lord and Saviour, is also a very busy time of year, at the end of a very busy school year. To some, it feels as is Christmas is also hurtling towards us with fever pitch speed. In the shops decorations go up straight after Halloween and there doesn’t seem to be | a break | from one major event to the next. A breather, a break, time to think, and reflect. And then the end of Christmas is the end of the year – downtime to rejuvenate.
An End, but also A Beginning
As much as it may be tempting to ‘get through Christmas’, there is so much more to it. Some people feel the sign “Jesus is the reason for the season” is used so often that it has lost its impact, similar to other Christmas traditions. It’s human nature to ‘get so used’ to a saying, a phrase, a habit, that we don’t feel its impact anymore and want something fresh and new: something to lift the heart and spirit.
Have you found yourself falling into that trap? That the old, well-worn phrases are losing their power and impact, and that you yearn for something fresh every Christmas? A desire to remember that there is so much more to these repeated phrases – a promise and a fresh beginning?
A Beginning and a Journey
One of the books I am currently reading is Mr Eternity, the story of Arthur Stace, retelling his life before and after his conversion and the amazing impact of writing one word for 35 years on many Sydney streets and pavements: Eternity. The response can be summed up in a quote from Mrs Jenny Story, who as a child spotted a chalked Eternity near her house. “We are all totally hooked in our moment-to-moment troubles. Mr Stace’s word is like a bucket of cold water, a wake-up call that puts these things into perspective.”
An Eternity perspective helps to ground us, calling us to keep going on our life’s journey with Him, giving us purpose and hope in Him.
Isaiah visualises our purpose and hope: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour.” (Isaiah 61: 1-3)
That is us – the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on us, binding, proclaiming, releasing, comforting, bestowing and sharing the oil of gladness and garments of praise. We are the oaks for the display of His splendour.
What an honour, what a privilege, and what a blessing it is at Christmas to have these opportunities available to us – when people’s hearts are softer, more open, and searching.
An End, a Beginning and inspiration for the Journey
This Christmas, may we keep an Eternity perspective as we hear the Lord say, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Is 43:19) Let us be inspired by Him once again.
As our school community farewells the students, may we receive afresh the Hope of Christmas, and share this Hope with those around us this Christmas season – spilling over into 2023.
References
Williams, R., & Meyers, E., (2017). Mr Eternity, the story of Arthur Stace. Acorn Press (taken from an email from Mrs Jenny Story to Elizabeth Meyers, 18/11/11)