By: Rev. Steve Zimmerman
As the holiday song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Of course, if you are in the ministry your tune may be a bit different! Yet this season is coming whether we like it or not.
In preparation for Advent this year, I am a bit like my mother who got presents ready months ahead of Christmas. I was thinking about what to say in this article back in the summer when the days were hot and unbearable. During that time, I was transitioning from one interim pastor role to another. I focused some of my attention on getting exercise at least five times a week like my heart doctor recommends. To accomplish that goal, I began to get my recommended daily 10,000 steps by walking different neighborhoods in Martinsville.
If you know me, I can’t just do one thing. I am a multi-tasker. Simply walking was a bit too boring. So, following in my father’s footsteps when he was my age, I purchased a litter “grabber” wand and picked up trash while I walked. My daily goal, besides the steps, was to fill up a plastic grocery bag full of trash before I got back home. Many days I didn’t have a problem meeting the goal.
It was during these journeys I had my Advent epiphany moment. I recalled what the prophet Isaiah said when he said, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)
Now I know that Isaiah probably did not have trash in mind when he penned these words. However, he was trying to prepare the people for a new Messiah. They must do what was needed to make this anticipation a reality. The new King of Kings is really coming! Do whatever is necessary!
How does that passage tie into trash collecting? At first, I walked on the sidewalks. But trash has no boundaries. To really beautify my city, I had to sometimes go where the trash was. That usually meant walking very carefully in the street. The positive end results were getting to know my neighbors with many giving me a “Thank You.” Overall, I was making my part of this quaint city a more pleasant place.
My daily walks were a good reminder that I must be open to taking risks. I could have easily stayed on the sidewalks and reached my personal goal, but I would not have made any significant impact on my neighborhood. It made me ponder how many times we have taken the safe way in our Christian journey rather than taking risks in our daily walk with God and others. That could be one reason why we are struggling as Christians and churches.
You see Advent is a risk. God took a risk on us by sending Jesus to be born, walk with us and die for us. Christ also challenged you and me to go into the highways and hedges to impact mankind with the Good News from our neighborhoods to the end of the earth.
In this Advent season may we all do what is needed to “make straight” our personal and church “highways” for the Christ-child, even if it means we must get off our safe paths on our spiritual travels and do some risk-taking.
These thoughts above are from Rev. Steve Zimmerman, the founding partner in the ministry. He works alongside churches in their mission process and small group dynamics. He coordinates the work of the partnership out of Martinsville, Virginia. Contact him for more information about how he can help you.