Practicing Incarnation

Advent I: Practicing Incarnation

A seasonal shift in religious focus is both a good and bad thing. It’s good because changing spiritual gears and traveling in a new way renews our focus. The problem comes when our heightened focus suggests God is active only in particular ways at particular times. The resurrection we celebrate at Easter is not unique to spring. It happens every day, in tombs of all shapes and sizes. So, too, the wonder of incarnation uniquely honored at Christmas happens in all sorts of “stables” throughout the year.

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With that in mind, I wonder what it would look like if we did not wait for December 25th to celebrate the incarnation – Emmanuel or God-with-us. What if the gift of Christmas arrived early this year because we called forth the presence of God in our daily lives . . . in the conversations we have with strangers and loved ones . . . in time spent with our children or work colleagues . . . in the gifts made or notes written?

Practicing incarnation could be a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas. I know God does not need us to become present in the world. Actually, I think it’s the other way around.