An Invitation to Focus on Our Humanity...

If my friend Paul Honaker was on our ministerial team at Northstar Community I would have no concerns about how we would manage to pull off a service that maintained a deeply faithful adherence to traditions and bring the congregation comfort and joy. As Minister of Music at our baptist church no one did these things better or more faithfully than Paul.

His Advent duties were never shirked. The candles were lit in order by color; he made sure the congregation all knew why they were lit when; he made it personal. Usually he asked one family each Sunday of Advent to come light the candle, read a scripture and pray.

One year he asked us. Here’s what happened:

First, my children complained about having to be seen in public with us, their parental units. Pete complained about having to walk up the stairs (he has slipped on those things a couple of times). No one wanted to do the prayer. This, I thought, was surely not how our family was supposed to behave. By and large, we are a crew that likes to whine but we always show up. When our turn came, we were all appropriately dressed and our daughter made sure we all knew our responsibilities. It looked like this year would go off without a hitch in spite of us.

We gathered at the appropriate time in the lobby behind the sanctuary and Paul, ever-faithful, rushed up to make sure we were clear as crystal on our instructions. Just when he was about to turn and rush off to his waiting choir, Michael (our youngest) rustled inside his sport coat and said, “Mr. Honaker? Can I use this to light the candle?” He whipped out our portable lighter - you know the kind - bright neon handle? Long flame thrower barrel?

Paul gasped but maintained his composure. He promptly repeated the instructions about the proper way to light the candle and absconded with our lighter. And this to me, is and forever will be, a sacred representation of Advent.

It reminds me that Advent invites us to focus on our humanity. The ways our young people keep us on our toes and remind us that the most true way to prepare for the coming of Christ might just include reminders to us all that we are fully human and humor helps navigate the complexity of humankind made in the image of God.

We can hold onto our traditions lightly but grasp with fierce determination the right and the responsibility to love one another well. To bring joy and mirth with us wherever we go. To maybe not trust a 3rd grader with a flamethrower but still allow him to participate and light the appropriate pink, purple or white candle…. Because all are welcome.

This weird year, what can you hold fiercely to that keeps the profound meaning of these holy days while gently releasing the parts of the holiday that maybe we cannot or perhaps should not continue to ritualize?