Email  Facebook  Instagram  Web

“The labored breathing, groaning, shouting of a mother. The powerlessness of a writhing, crying newborn. The fear of not having a sanitized place to give birth. What we see through the details of the birthing process is that the Christ story is actually about a God who brings salvation into the world through all those messy details.”

—Scott Erickson, Honest Advent

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice — it is the season of their

many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances — but it is the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;

what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will

come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

—Mary Oliver

Be Honest

Where do you embrace the mess of life? Where do you resist it?

What is hopeful about a God who saves us, not from the mess, but in the midst of the mess? In your life, is there anyone (maybe even you) who needs a special reminder of that in this season? How can you show that person grace, love, compassion?

What is one messy thing about you that you might share with God in prayer today?

For more resources for daily reflection during Advent,

visit FUMC Austin on Instagram or Facebook.

Image used with permission from the artist, Scott Erickson.

Contact Rachel Wright, Director of Communications, with questions or concerns about these daily Advent devotionals.