Mariah Travis is a knowledge manager for Habitat for Humanity in San José, Costa Rica. Read her Advent reflection below.
The beginning of our story takes us to Bethlehem, a small town of humble people who lived from the land, a town with little room for a traveling young couple about to give birth.
In a room meant for sheltering animals, there is little light. You can almost taste the dust and smell the scent that lingers in the air. It was not a place fit for the birth of hope by any human standards, yet God’s thoughts are so much higher. He did not hesitate to bring hope to all humankind in such a humble way.
Hope can shine in dark places like a shelter unfit for a family; it can be bundled up in a manger unsuitable for a human baby. Hope is for all in the land, the poor and the rich, the simple and the wise, those with expectations for good news and those taken by surprise.
Very much like the shepherds who were the first to look inside a humble shelter for the incarnation of hope, we are called to see beyond the dimmed circumstances that surround us. In this Advent season, as we face uncertainty in our work, our environment and our own lives, let us not lose hope. Let us be reminded that possibilities can be found in unseemly places, new ideas can spark in the dark and humble beginnings have never limited God’s light. It can shine and give birth to wonderful new stories.
Just as in the beginning of this story, our mission invites us to go into towns with little room for families in need of shelter and to look inside places that seem unsuitable for our fellow humans. We also must adjust our sight and focus on the hope laid in front of us. As we work together with the families and communities we serve to build a brighter future, let us renew our strength and be expectant of all God can do once again.
As we step into these challenges, let’s do so with our sight adjusted and our faith in Him who is the source of our hope restored. Like the shepherds on that first Christmas night, may we witness and share the good news with all humankind.
Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son to humanity, for the hope You give us through Him. We pray that You open our eyes to see beyond challenging circumstances and look to the future with hope and expectation. As we go to those places that seem impossible to us, give us eyes to see the need and the possibilities. We pray that You use this season of reflection to renew our minds and strengths and build our hope for the future so we can bring hope to those we’ll encounter. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
