Monday, December 7, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  Isaiah 9:2, 6–7  
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (NRSV)

Reflection
A few weeks back, I got a call from my wife to pick her up after an event she was running. Her school is nearby—about five minutes from our house—so I hopped in the car and drove over using the road I always use: a 45-mph road that has little in the way of aesthetics other than strip malls. I’ve grown so accustomed to that route that I didn’t even think about why I went that way—at least not until my wife suggested a different route home, cutting through neighborhoods rather than taking the main road.

“Those streets are only 25 mph,” I protested. “And there are stop signs!” Rather than make a big deal of it, though, I went her route—grumbling internally about the valuable seconds we were wasting. But as we went down the street—a street filled with the changing colors of trees and kids playing basketball in the lawn—there was something peaceful about it. Whatever (minimal) time we lost was more than made up in the change of perspective.

I am always tempted during Advent (and perhaps you are as well) to get onto that familiar 45-mph road--the one of shopping and decorating and packed schedules that has come to define this season. But in reading this passage today—a reminder that at the center of it all “a child has been born for us . . . called Mighty God, Prince of Peace”—I’ve found myself wondering if taking the 25-mph road through this season is perhaps the right way to go—still reaching our destination, but better able to catch glimpses of the light Jesus came to bring.

Prayer
Prince of Peace, help me to slow my pace in the midst of this chaotic season, that I might better catch glimpses of your light in this world. Amen.

Written by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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