Calm Amidst the Chaos?

December 8, 2013

A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’
Luke 3:4

I invite you to walk with me as we step back in time… I am closing my eyes and imagining in my mind this scene from 2000 years ago: A desert backdrop… calm, quiet, peaceful. I am enjoying the silence of the desert. No cell phones, no noise, no violence, nothing here to remind me of the chaos of the 21st century. I have gone back in time… I am sitting on a rock… taking in a beautiful desert sunset enjoying the silence. Suddenly I hear a voice… who dares disturb my karma? John the Baptist has come to see me with an important message: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” John and I chat for a while about “the one who is mightier” to come. John leaves me and goes on his way. I remain in the desert a bit longer, the sun has set and I gaze up at the stars in heaven. Once again quietness comes over me and I ponder John’s message to me and the world. As I gaze into the night sky, one star to the north seems to twinkle at me. Is this twinkle from the eye of God?

As I travel back to our century I can’t help but wonder if John were to come to us today would we hear his message against the chaos of our own lives? How often do we take time out of our lives to be still and empty our minds of clutter… Think back to the last time you felt at peace, even if it was just a few minutes. This Advent, I am going to try to take time every day to quiet the chaos of my mind. I am going to go back in time to my desert and ponder how I will prepare the way of our Lord. It will be difficult to do amongst the cooking, shopping, working, and demands of life… but I am going to try and I challenge each and every one of you to do the same. -God Bless, Holly Clark