The Storm Before The Calm

Lucy Holt

This reflection sent out after schools finish for the holidays. So I write it in the carol, jumper, pantomime filled chaos which is the end of term.

Every day seems full of frayed tempers and exhausted tears, especially from the youngest students. Extra events, extra food, extra things to remember. Many of the extras are joyful and wonderful, including preparing for the main part of Christmas, but it can also be overwhelming and leave us desperate for a rest.

I’m still enjoying learning about the rhythms of work and rest in the Bible, particularly the links between Sabbath rest as a foreshadowing and reminder of God’s rule and reign over time itself. Having only listened to one episode of the Bible Project podcast before speaking at church recently, I’ve now gone back to listen to the rest of the series on 7th-Day rest which I would really recommend.

There is a link between working, completeness and rest. However completeness isn’t the same as perfection. If we try and achieve perfection by the standards of the world or social media it will never be enough. If we trust God for our completeness we can let ourselves rest.

Christmas is a good example. We can reach a point of readiness for Christmas without our homes, lives and families looking like a perfect Christmas picture of tidiness and matching pyjamas.

There are so many Advent and Christmas bible passages, it is hard to pick one to include here. Partly because the familiar rhythm of the same readings at the same time of year is a beautiful part of Christmas. My favorite this week has been from Isaiah 9:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mightly God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
(Isaiah 9: 6-7)

The last couple of weeks of term feel a long time to wait for a holiday for students and teachers. Isaiah is speaking of a wait which took hundreds of years.

Even after Jesus’ life and resurrection, we are still waiting for God's kingdom and peace to fully arrive. The joy and rest of Christmas does give us a glimpse of that peace. When the preparations are complete and we can enjoy the time which has arrived.

God is with us, in the waiting as well as the arrival of peace.