December 5th, 2004

Visions of Sugarplums

“The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads...”

So goes the poem, yet maybe you don’t live in such a perfect world. Perhaps the children you know are running around leaving a mess behind. There’s cookie dough dripping off the counter, the family room (and the basement and their bedrooms) look like Toys R Us had moved in, There’s a constant chant of “he’s picking on me!”, and a wailing child is never far from hearing.

If that’s more like your house, then this Sunday of Advent is for you. First we hear Isaiah’s dream of everyone getting along in God’s peaceful kingdom. We end up hearing John the Baptist threatening that when the messiah comes, he’ll sort out the mess and punish everyone who did wrong. Doesn’t that sound like the polarity a parent faces. On the one hand we dream that some day our children will grow up to actually like each other, that they will stop fighting with each other and that the family will be peaceful. On the other hand we resort to “wait til your father gets home” threats (or “wair til your motrher gets home”, depending....)

Now it turns out that Isaiah and John the Baptist both had it wrong. God’s peaceful kingdsom hasn’t come yet -- witness the wars in the world and in our families. And when the messiah did come, he forgave the sinners rather than cut them down with fire and axe. Maybe “wrong” isn’t the best word. Maybe we should say “not yet” to the dream of Isaiah and “thank you” for the saving and forgiving love of Jesus.

In the midst of all we have to do in the remaining days before Christmas it might be good to slow down at least for a few minutes each day. Bring your day, your family, your concerns to Jesus in prayer and let the Prince of Peace calm and direct you. Then there’ll be some hope for peace this Advent and Christmas that will be more lovely than visions of sugarplums.

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