Thank you for taking the time to sit with our annual Advent Devotionals. Campus is quiet now with the students home for winter break, yet the spirit of Advent continues with more words from of members of the TCU community. Today’s piece comes from TCU student Michael McCluskey, a member of TCU Disciples on Campus.
Words to ponder
“When you live in God, your day begins when you lose yourself long enough for God to find you, and when God finds you, to lose yourself again in praise.”
–Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World
Turn Away
I’m not the greatest math student. Sometimes a problem would stump me no matter how many people tried to explain it to me, no matter how long I stared at the paper, no matter how hard I tried. I would grow agitated and frustrated with myself for not being able to figure out the problem. Then, one day I learned the secret to solving those tough problems – sometimes, you need to walk away from it for a bit and come back with a clear mind after some rest. It is trick that I still use today. If I can’t figure out how to word something, how to resolve a fight with a friend, or how to repair some damage I’ve done – I take a moment to breathe and to walk away, to turn away.
This is not always easy. There is something about my humanity that compels me to stay and try and remedy the brokenness right then and there – to work tirelessly until all is right again. But, that is not what I’m called to do. In this Advent season, God calls us to take time to turn away. In the Christian tradition, we know this as a kind of repentance. We are called to take a breath, to take a step back, and to marvel in the grace that God creates in this season. This is our time for Advent repentance. Enjoy the lights, the fellowship, the communion, and know that you are enough; sometimes, you just need to turn away for a minute.
Let us pray
God of Love and God of Grace,
Still our anxious hearts. Fill our lungs with a spirit of wholeness. Clear our minds of worries and stress. May we find refuge in Your love. Show us that we are capable, that we are enough, that we are Your own. Be with us as we journey through this season of Advent.
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