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| Thanksgiving in Colorado, 2020 |
Change. People vary in their fondness or dislike of change. It’s
said that “a change can do you good”, and “a change is as good as a rest”, etc.,
but I’d dare say that even the most spontaneous among us have not loved the
changes that 2020 brought with the arrival of covid and the “new normal.” I’m sure that many of us have come to be
thankful for the some of the changes, while at the same time bemoaning others.
Our family has been thankful to have Ben working from home, but struggled
tremendously with not being able to go to church for 3 months. There have
definitely been both blessings and difficulties during this season.
I
am so very thankful that in a world that is constantly changing, due to
coronavirus and otherwise, that my God remains the same. In a world that is
uncertain, I can trust the steadfastness of Christ. During the last 9 months, I
have often found myself absolutely overwhelmed by the magnitude and swiftness
of the changes, so I have had to constantly remind myself of these truths. I
read from a book most mornings that follows the church calendar and the second
week of Advent the theme was “In Change, Unchanged”. I want to share a reading that particularly
touched me by J. Campbell Shairp:
’Twixt gleams of joy and
clouds of doubt
our feelings come and go;
Our daily state is tossed
about
in ceaseless ebb and
flow.
No mood of feeling, form
of thought,
is constant for a day;
But Thou, O Lord, Thou
changest not,
the same Thou art alway.
We
try to keep focused on these truths each and every day, but I have found that traditions
that usher us into observing the church season and focusing our attention on
Christ, further aid us in this endeavor. This year especially I have really
appreciated our Advent and Christmas traditions. It seems that in a world so
uncertain and constantly changing, that lovely traditions bring so much comfort
and they provide us with some deep rooting. In our family we try to very
intentionally observe a slow and simple Advent, focusing on the waiting leading
up to Christ’s birth, and reminding us that we are still waiting for His second
coming.
We pray that whatever traditions your
family observe point you to Christ, the steadfast & unchanging One.
“Life’s sorrows still
fluctuate; God’s love does not, And His love is unchanged, when it changes our
lot.”
–Lytton
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