Advent's call to Action

 "The first advent revealed that leaning into God's coming justice puts people at odds with society's and religion's definitions of holiness. Advent just might make life harder." Kelly Nikondeha

A couple of years ago Peanut came to me one morning with the big Christmas question.

"Is Santa real?"

The science lover in her had been circling the question for a few years. Making hypotheses, investigating, asking questions. I always avoided answering by returning questions with questions.

Peanut is a lover of all things magical. While many little girls enjoyed playing with dolls, Peanut did not. She played with unicorns and fairies. Peanut devoured books of great fantasy such as Wings of Fire about a clan of great dragons. She developed a love for role playing games and consistently is creating new fantastical characters. Peanut's favorite Christmas movie is the NIghtmare Before Christmas.

Peanut lived into the magic of Christmas. She woke every morning to find the elf. She leaned into all the stories about Santa. I knew this question was going to shift her holiday experience.

We talked for a bit - what do you think? What would that mean if he was? What if he wasn't?

Finally I looked at Peanut and asked her if she really wanted to know the truth.

Sometimes, it's okay to tuck that little questioning nugget aside because once you know truth - it forces you to embrace it. It nags at you. It colors how you see the world.

Peanut insisted she was ready. She needed truth.

So then came the big conversation about all the things magic by the light of the Christmas tree. About the heart behind it.

And then came the total devastation of childhood.

Well- at least for the moment. Peanut flipped out. "WHY did you tell me?"

Um, because you asked?

These are the things they don't cover in the parenting books.

We worked through this new information over a few days. Then Peanut came to me and asked, "Could you just pretend I don't know?"

Being days from Christmas, I just said yes because .........December.

Last year, I explained to Peanut that we could participate in the magic fun while still knowing the truth. The elf could move and occasionally bring a Christmas treat and we could all know it was me.

And we could let other families enjoy the magic, or not, but it wasn't our place to make that decision.

As I move this little elf again this year, Snowflake is her name, I've been thinking about this idea of knowing truth.

Once I know something to be true I'm tasked with doing something with that information.

And that can feel hard and overwhelming.

Advent reminds us that truth comes with a cost.

The birth of this baby shook the political systems of the day. And should continue to shake them now.

The birth of this baby should cause us to speak up when the values He stands for are being run over by people in power.

Advent is not an ending.

It's a beginning.

A call for justice and mercy and hope and love.

Mama Warriors, I think we are all working to teach our kids truth as we know it.

I think where we may all be struggling is that truth calls us into action.

As we load the local food pantry closets, I remind Peanut - we do this because we are called to help those in need.

As we volunteer to tutor kids in reading and literacy, I remind Peanut - we do this because we are called to help those who are struggling.

As we stop and hand a blanket to a displaced person in a parking lot, I remind Peanut - we do this because we are called to help those without homes.

Advent calls us into action.

It reminds us of the mission.