Books really can be like doors into another world, be that an imagined world or simply a situation, a time or location with which we are unfamiliar. Books enlarge our understanding of the world, enable us to develop greater empathy for the circumstances of others. Reading can prepare us to undertake new tasks, to learn different ways of communicating, to explore new ways of relating to people – and to God. Lent is often seen as a time to take up a new book, so why not Advent too? The dark evenings are a good time to curl up with a book and open new doors.
A room without books is like a body without a soul. Marcus Tullius Cicero
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
A waiting room: somewhere set apart to wait in quiet, away from the noise of the platform, warm away from the drafts that go with stations. Waiting for the train, we may find ourselves constantly checking the clock or the departure board, hoping for no delay, no missed connection. Other waiting rooms may be at the doctor’s or dentist’s surgery.
Perhaps here we wait with more apprehension: what will be the outcome? Will we be reassured or find our fears realised? Will we find healing?
There are many other times in the day when in small ways we find ourselves waiting: waiting for the kettle to boil, for a companion to arrive, for a toilet to become vacant, for a traffic light to turn green. Are these times of frustration or boredom? But equally how often do we think, If only I could just stop for five minutes, or I just need a minute’s break? Why not use those occasions when you are forced to wait as time to rest, to clear your mind, to pray?
These two colourful doors are from a street in Norway. Both radically different yet neither door stands out as being more important than another. We are often faced with multiple choices in life and feel the pressure to make the right choice. We can fret over which choice to make, regret the choice we do make and convince ourselves that we have made a mistake. But is it not possible that there may be two or even more equally different but equally right choices? The choice we make is no better nor any worse than the choices we do not make; just different.
Similarly there is no one right way to mark Advent nor one right way to celebrate Christmas. Let us not over worry about the choices we make and rather have the humility and the flexibility to go along with the choices others may make.
The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. Proverbs 16.9
This painting depicts a colourful collection of doors that captures some of the atmosphere of this Unesco World Heritage City. Recently the Guadaloupe neighbourhood was designated as an art district and young artists were encouraged to decorate the walls with large, vivid murals. This bold use of colour suggests a joyfulness that is perhaps sometimes missing from our grey winter streets.
Can our Advent disposition be one that brings joy and colour into the lives of those around us as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour?
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Well stocked is an understatement for this kitchen. It is abounding with absurd amounts of fresh meat, game, exotic fruits and vegetables: there is barely room for the kitchen maids to work. And every remaining nock and cranny is filled with a wine cup or goblet. The impending festivities do not seem to be limited to food and drink; the semi dressed figures behind the central maid suggest sexual indulgences too.
The scene is purposefully set against the scene we can see through the doorway in the back of the picture. Here in subdued tones we see Christ with Mary sat listening at his feet and Martha interrupting their conversation. Martha complains that it is unfair that she is left to do all the domestic work, but Jesus rebukes her, saying that Mary has chosen the better response.
This picture reminds us that we can get too enthralled in preparing the material aspects of our Christmas celebrations. We could be less ambitious, less profligate, less demanding of the time we must spend on these preparations and instead have time to sit and wait at Jesus’s feet.
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.’
We are looking from one room to another, with a corridor in between. The first room is a kitchen or scullery – a mop and a towel suggest domestic tasks. The room beyond is more refined. A set of keys suggests a desire to protect the security of this room. On the table is an open book. By it is a large candle now extinguished; maybe the book was being read in the early hours before day break. There is an atmosphere of tranquility and peace about this scene, as well as a sense of patient waiting. Is the room waiting for the reader to return to the book?
The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ … Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:10,11,12,19
Can we find words to treasure and ponder whilst we wait this Advent?
Do you remember the excitement of opening the little doors on an old fashioned Advent calendar to see the miniature picture behind it? We always knew that behind door 24 would be a crib and a baby Jesus, but what was behind the other doors would be a surprise – a mystery. Is that true of Advent itself? We know where we will end up on 24th December but our journey there and our encounters on the way may be full of surprises and mystery.
This first door is from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis. Lucy climbs in to hide and finds that the wardrobe leads into a parallel world, a world of challenge and adventure, fear and excitement. If we could choose to step through a door into another world this Advent, would we be hoping to step back into the world of childhood Christmases? A time when everything is exciting, the ground is always covered with snow, Christmas trees are tall and everyone is full of love and laughter. When we excitedly unwrap ribbons and paper to find we have been given our hearts desire.
Or would we hope to step into a parallel world of spiritual well-being? Where prayer comes easily. Where our hearts sing with joyous anticipation. Where every hour we feel close to God. Where our minds are free of worries about turkeys and presents. Where each day takes us a step closer to heaven.
Or would we fear stepping into a world of endless Christmas bling? Never ending shopping opportunities. Snake-like checkout queues, canned carols and dancing reindeer, fake snow and luminous snowmen.
‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for Him.’
Luke 3: 4
O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
The Green Tau 