The season of Advent is upon us...

Today is the first day of Advent and I wrote the devotion for Hollywood United Methodist Church to start the season.  

Isaiah 40:28-31

“Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

When I opened up my email to see which scripture I’d been assigned for this year’s advent devotion, I read my verses and thought, yeah, that’s about right. That’s so 2020. That’s exactly what I’m feeling…

 

I have grown weary and I feel powerless, I am exhausted and I sometimes have a hard time understanding what’s happening and more so, why it’s happening. It’s been a year full of sickness and strife and so much pain. So. Much. Pain. 

 

I am heartbroken for so many, for our world. I am sad all the time. I am angry all the time. I am fragile and jaded all at once. And yet…

 

This passage from Isaiah reminds me that there is help. It reminds me that even though this year has been one like no other I’ve experienced; God is in control. He will renew me when I cannot renew myself. He will help me to stand tall and confident and He will shore up my reserves. And I need that. Every. Single. Day.

 

This advent season will be so different from any we’ve ever experienced. We will not gather in person to worship or celebrate. We will not gather in person to exchange gifts and eat cookies. We will not carol with friends. We will not shop in malls. We will not eat and drink and be merry in public or with anyone who doesn’t live in our house. We will celebrate differently but we will still celebrate. 

 

For the Lord will renew us regardless of what the world throws at us. And we will mount up with wings like eagles. We will hunker down and be thankful for what we have and that we are healthy and able to stay at home when we can. We will run and not be weary. We will wear masks and smile with our eyes, spreading the news of Jesus’ birth online and via the postal service. We will walk and not faint. We will be hopeful for what tomorrow will bring, knowing God will protect us, that He will save us. He’s got us. 

 

Advent is about waiting and preparing. We do that as we get ready for the baby Jesus’ birth. We do that too as we get ready for life after the pandemic. We put our faith and trust in Him. We believe in Him. We love Him. Because no matter how tired and powerless we feel, He loves us, He strengthens us. Every. Single. Day. 

 

Prayer – God, please hold our communities close. Please be with every person who is doing their part to make this world safer, healthier, happier, better. Please strengthen all of us. You are amazing, God. And we remember that, even in the darkest of days. Amen. 

  

I do not know what tomorrow will bring but...

Four years ago I wrote a blog post entitled: What happens next. In it I wrote about my sadness, my disappointment, and my determination not to quiet my voice. We had experienced a long election season and I had campaigned mightily for Hillary Clinton, among others. And we lost. 

I wrote these words at the end of that post: 

Be that person who's not just asking what happens next but actually be that person who goes out and does what happens next. Because what happens next will be extraordinary. It has to be.

And it's true. The last four years have been extraordinary. I have never been so invested in so many issues and projects outside of myself. Four years. I keep thinking about how my life is so very similar to how it was all those days ago. And yet, how it's so very different. 

Since 2016, I've made a web series. I've committed to directing a movie (pandemic-pending, but isn't everything?!). I've helped feed and cloth people. I've raised money. I've raised awareness. I've helped make sustainable menstrual health solutions for girls and women around the world. I've marched for and worked to help educators and students. And I've worked to Get Out The Vote more because I believe that is one of the most important things we can do. We need leaders who we can be proud of. We need leaders who look like us. ALL OF US. We need leaders with empathy. We need leaders who are smart. We need leaders who are women. And I've tried to help with that. And I'm proud of every single person I know who's doing all of these things too and so much more. 

So much has happened in the last four years. And yet, when I think back, I'm immediately flooded with stomach-churning memories of that night. The night we knew the election wasn't ours. Of the day after when I needed comfort from friends and family. When friends and family needed comfort from me. When we hugged and cried and decided we'd grieve but we'd try again. Because...

What else is there? 

These last four years have not been ordinary. They have not been easy. They have not been palatable. They have not been calm. Not for one moment. They have been violent. They have been heartbreaking. They have been maddening. They have been full of terror and anger and astonishment. 

I've never invested so much time into learning about my country, my government, foreign policy, community movements. And while I'm exhausted by it all, I have no right to be. I am a citizen. I am a woman. I should expect this from myself. I should expect to be involved. To be constantly learning and evolving and sharing. As part of a community, a country, I need to do better. Be better. TRY HARDER. We all do. 

I do not know what tomorrow will bring. I am equal parts terrified and excited, hopeful and anxious, angry and ecstatic. I do not know what tomorrow will bring. But I do know that the next four years will again, be extraordinary. They have to be. 

My mother, my grandmothers, and my great-grandmothers fought for me every day. They fought for me in ways big and small, by marching with their minds and with their feet. They wanted to make this world a better place for all of us, not just women. And I will pick up that baton, whatever tomorrow's outcome is. I will continue on. I will remind myself of that through the dread and the fear and the small glimmer of hope. I have to be the person who's not just asking what happens next but actually be that person who goes out and does what happens next. We all have to be that person. And it starts tomorrow, by voting. 

Please, BE A VOTER. Tomorrow and always.