Peeks at the Advent Calendar

Back in December of 2012 while still residing in California, I wrote a series of Christmas posts to serve as a type of “Advent Calendar.”  It was set up so that the reader could walk through the month before Christmas as it was brought forth in our Bibles, with a daily scripture reading, a story and an activity for the reader to experience.

On a hunch, I pulled up today’s First Wednesday in Advent post and low and behold it really spoke to my heart.  It looked to me that the lead character in today’s story had a lot in common with the brand new, totally different and seemingly out-of-this-world place that I find myself in right now!  Then I realized that it might have that same effect on many of you for whatever new and possibly very different things that you may be experiencing in your life.  

So, I thought you might enjoy reading this as much as I did… and that it would encourage you as much as it did me.  ENJOY!

The Teenage Years

Wednesday, the first week of Advent

Today’s Reading:  Isaiah 7:14 / Luke 1:26-38

Today’s society tends to look at the teenage years as a time to fear.  To many it is looked upon as “The Rebellious Years,” or as a time of experimentation.  It is the one phase of the child rearing years that many parents dread and pray that they have the endurance to make it through with their kids.  As one who has had the honor of working closely with and ministering to youth in the local church throughout my life, as well as actively participating in the upbringing of our own four kids, I look at those experiencing life as a 12 to 18-year-old with a different set of glasses!

I see these youth as older kids who suddenly find themselves in an in-between time where they are no longer children, but yet not quite adults.  Their bodies are changing, and they are beginning to have the capabilities to think about and comprehend the world and everything they have ever known with a whole new set of comprehensive and abstract tools.  Then on top of everything else, their emotions seem to be on a rollercoaster ride as they are going through this physical, mental, spiritual and emotional upheaval!  With everything happening in them, it is no surprise for me to see some of our youth dressed in black from head to toe, with hair in multicolored shades of red or blue, with a new vocabulary that seems to only include about half a dozen words, or with body piercing in a wide array of locations on their bodies.

Yes, they are experimenting and testing the waters of life.  Yes, they are looking to find out who they really are and what they really believe and yes, they are testing those around them, those they love and befriend, to find out just how really loved and accepted they are to them.  In my experience, I have come to realize that our youth are a product of the environment that they have been raised in, and underneath it all, that they are looking for the same securities that we adults seek in our lives.

In our story today, we see the angel Gabriel coming on the scene again as he appears to a young teenage girl with a message that could turn her world upside down!  It is interesting for me to see that there is no record of her physical features or dress.  The only description that is given is that she was “a virgin” who was “highly favored” (Luke 1:26-28)  Have you ever thought about Mary’s appearance?  What if she wore a nose ring like Rachel the revered wife of Isaac who was one of the Patriarchs of her Jewish faith?  (See Genesis 24:22) It would seem that God only looked on the qualities of her heart and not on the sight of how she dressed, her hair style or the jewelry she might have worn.

What we do see as our story unfolds though, is that this young girl, who was most likely between the ages of 12 – 15, knew the scriptures, knew the faithfulness of her God, and was very confident and yet humble to accept and pursue whatever responsibility was given to her from Him.  When Gabriel appeared to her, she was not overtaken with fear as we saw with her uncle’s experience six months previous to this event. 

I believe that her reaction that caused her to be “startled by what the angel said” and her question “How can this be?” (Luke 1:29 & 34) was simply the inquisitive request of an innocent young girl wanting to know how it would happen.  She did not ask for a sign and never doubted that it was from God, or that she could handle the calling!  Her reply to the angel’s explanation was a straight forward affirmation of: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”  (Luke 1:38 ASV) 

No where do we find any recorded thoughts of “Can I do this?  Am I good enough or able to accomplish this task?  What if I fail?” or “What will my family, friends and relatives think?” and maybe most importantly, “What will my husband to be think?”  I am positive that Mary’s home environment perfectly prepared her for her all-important role in God’s plan for our salvation.  She never flinched, but jumped whole heartedly into this sudden and totally unexpected turn in her life!

Once again, how would you respond to such a dramatic turn of events in your life?  Would you have the same simple confidence, zeal and freedom to let go and let God as this young teenage girl exemplified? 

This short story has many things for us to consider this Christmas season.  For instance, how we look at others.  How we look at ourselves.  The depth of our unyielding trust in our heavenly Father, and maybe even the difference between how God looks at people compared to how we view them.  This could be an advantageous time to grab a sheet of blank paper and begin to jot down some personal notes as thoughts on these questions arise within you.  It might just be the beginnings of a whole new way you look at life’s assignments, at other people and at yourself!

Have a Super day!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “How am I expecting to view life today?”