Hope for the Hope-less

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and I was doing the family service.

I was briefed by my boss VS that 1st Advent is about the Patriachs, 2nd - Prophets, 3rd - John the Baptist and 4th - Mary and (possibly - we weren't sure when the conversation took place) Joseph.

I did quite a bit of research and also SOSed as many ppl as I could think of for ideas. I was hoping to stick to the game plan and eventually put together a piece I think which is brilliant. I engaged the ppl in a conversation about the perfect chocolate cake and what ingredients were needed to make it. We also talked about the intricate steps to making the perfect chocolate cake.

I then summarised the OT in 10 minutes accompanied by cartoon drawings - just in case I wasn't animated enough to hold their attention. From God and Adam and Eve to Abraham being the father of all nations to Moses and then King David. Then to Jeremiah 33 about the promise of a New King from the line of David - the (perfect) King who would bring hope to the hope-less.

I finally concluded my message by reminding us that Advent was the pre to the prefect. Like the OT... all characters and happenings in the OT were God's ingredients and intricate steps leading to the birth of the King. And then ended with discussing what our 'ingredients and intricate steps' were to preparing for the coming of the Perfect King.

I know you the reader may think this is a bit far out, but I assure you, coupled with my classic animations and cartoon drawings (they were a hit!) it was all good.

But my pre to that was a bit of a disaster...

I started the day well... woke up early and got all my things sorted out. But I got into a cab of a non believer (no I am not being judgemental) and that threw me off. He wasn't just a non believer but he HATED religion and God with a vengence. He blamed God for his mother's sufferings and for the things happening to the world. I tried to explain that we make our own choices and it is our doing. And he went on to say well, if God created the world, He would have created us without a bad bone. I of course said that would not be fair to us, because He wanted us to think for ourselves. He then pushed further that God was stoopid for doing so because He would have known we would make wrong choices.

Just before I got out of the car, he asked me 1 question - if I had all the power in the world, like God, would I take away the world's suffering right now, i.e. right all the wrong.

I didn't have to think, my answer was no. He wouldn't even let me explain why, but I did, because I refuse to get out of the cab till I had said it. I told him that we make our own mistakes, and like all parents we watch our children fall when they learn how to walk but we let them fall because we know they will learn from their mistakes. And if I were to change all that in the world we would never learn.

He laughed and said that was the most unChristian thing he has ever heard a Christian say.

I wanted to beat him up with my mary poppins bag and stomp all over his face with my heels.

I sat there in the service feeling angry and confused - throwing out all my confidence in the message I had prepared for the 2nd service. I was worried that I would not be a 'suitable instrument' for God to use and I prayed God would clear my thoughts. And I wondered if I was being unChristian about it.

Then VS started to preach. And his sermon was like an answered prayer. He talked about how Pharoah didn't want the ppl of Israel to hear the good news from Moses, so he made them work so hard till they were too tired to hear. And in today's context, commercials about Christmas presants is making it so hard for us to hear, let alone remember the Reason for the Season. And then he talked about all the bad things happening in the world out there, and how it can easily distract us from our faith and believing.

But that is what Advent is about. It is about us being on our knees and acknowledging the ugly in us and in the world and therefore, wait with hope in anticipation of the One who would bring us peace. The One who would restore hope to the hope-less.

I am sure you can guess what happened next... Yeap, I cried. I cried because that was what I needed to hear, God enfolding me with His words. I cried because of the hope I have in One by the name of Jesus. I cried because for a split second I was swayed. I cried because I felt sorry for the cab driver. And I cried because I didn't have the wisdom to defend my faith with honour in our discussion.

I then started to pray for him.

There was a point in my life when I could not understand how ppl can 'hear' God and speak to Him. Today I can't imagine my life not seeing God is all things around me - both good and bad.

I still want to beat the driver up, but I am also drawn to feeling sorry for him, because unlike me, a believer, I have hope. And he doesn't. And he goes on the rest of his life feeling angry, smug and obnoxious and shitty about his life. Well, maybe sometimes I do feel a little of those feelings, but at least I know in the end, 'all things on earth and heaven is Yours, all things comes from You, and of our own we give You.' Right down to our anger, but that man just piles it on.

But seriously, if you had to chose, what would you have told the driver?

You know, I do hope someone would drop me a reply, but knowing that is not going to happen, well at least I hope it got you thinking.

Happy Advent

PS... this is my 105th post... woo hoo! Didn't think I would last this long. =)