Sadvent To Advent

(by Lorie Codispoti)

It’s Advent season, and each week is set apart to focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.

The word Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming / arrival,” and each theme is marked with a sense of expectation. It is considered a season of light during the dark days of winter. Each week we symbolize and celebrate the light of Christ by lighting one candle for each theme.

But for some of us the winds of heartache have blown out the light, filling our days with a blinding darkness that has turned Advent into a sadvent. Expectations have been crushed by unrelenting pain and loss. And what of hope, peace, joy & love? Well, they feel like empty Christmas card sentiments that may make their way to our mailbox, but sadly remain distant from our hearts.

I understand. I’ve been there.

Suffering can be spiritually and physically debilitating. Our losses are traumatic, pain is relenting, and change is hard to accept.

So, how do we exchange sadvent for Advent? Is it possible to invite the virtues of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love to reignite our sense of expectation when our heart is broken?

I think we can do both.

How?

By revisiting the time-honored truths of Advent, and contemplating the paradoxes that only God can harmonize.

Advent serves as a countdown to Christmas. And while we enjoy our modern day calendars with their special compartments that house delicious chocolate treats and trinkets to enhance the idea and create an air of anticipation among children, the spiritual significance of Advent goes beyond the superficial.

For centuries Christians have observed the tradition of Advent, marking it with many weeks of preparation that involved fasting, prayer, and reflection. Each Sunday, believers offer prayers and readings that focus on one of the four virtues, and during this time of waiting to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the Christ child, alongside the anticipated second-coming of Christ, the bonds of all believers are solidified and unity is fostered. In the Old Testament we read of those who faithfully waited for the prophesied Messiah, and in the New Testament we read of the King’s return to rule and reign forever.

This hope continues for us today.

The fact that the Prince of Peace will return is the confident expectation that believers have had for centuries. Throughout time the he collective of believers celebrate together the first coming of Christ (the incarnation), and we anticipate, with confident expectation, His second coming (Parousia).

This is Advent!

Hope, peace, joy & love are faith-defining hallmarks of the Christian walk, and believers have been traveling this well worn road for centuries now. We walk and we wait. But, we don’t walk in the darkness, nor is our waiting without purpose.

One writer encourages us to fathom the paradoxes of Advent - dark and light, emptiness and fulfilment, ancient and ever new - and to do it patiently standing firm in our faith, as James 5:7-8 encourages. 

I encourage you to do the same. 

Contemplate the lives of those who have gone before us - both inside and outside Scripture. (I like to do this by reading biographies. I’m currently reading about John Newton to my grand-littles, and it’s encouraging ME!) You will discover men and women who walked through great suffering; sometimes so gut-wrenching that it had the potential to destroy their faith.

But God!

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can not only stand strong and weather the storms of adversity, but we will emerge on the other side testifying of how the paradoxes of Advent harmonized and to strengthen our faith, not destroy it.

Therefore, rejoice with me! “…look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Lk.21:28b)

Invite the beauty of this special season to fill your heart and home with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love (all in caps), because these virtues are also characteristics that describe our King - who came, and is coming, to turn your sadvent into Advent.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Compassion Fatigue

(by Lorie Codispoti)

It’s that time of year again. The time when we’re bombarded with solicitations from all the legitimately worthy organizations, people, and causes we care about.

Did you know that humans make about 35,000 decisions a day? That breaks down to 2,000 decisions per hour (factoring in the average of seven hours for sleep). Much of that is your brain making a functional decision, like breathing or blinking your eyes. We were created with the ability to perform many unconscious, autonomous actions, but the ones I want to talk about are the conscious decisions we make - specifically those related to the abundance of pleas for year-end giving.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the needs?

How do we decide which causes to support when there are more of them than dollars to go around? Even if you plan ahead and allocate funds in advance you can experience generosity burnout during the holiday season.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the appeals. There’s even a term that describes this type of solicitation anxiety.

It’s called “compassion fatigue.”

Compassion fatigue is a common phenomenon among those in the care-giving industry. However, that’s not the only place it can show up. If we’re not cognizant of the fact that a burden for helping others - whether that comes in the form of giving donations or physically serving in some capacity - can produce a negative result, then we become susceptible.

God’s word tells us NOT to “grow weary while doing good.” (Gal.6:9, 2Thess.3:13)

Why?

In part, it’s because when our hearts become overwhelmed by needs that far outweigh the assistance we can offer, it feels like our drop in that very large bucket will have little to no impact. Another reason we need to guard against “growing weary” is that weariness has the ability to harden us. We can become desensitized to the struggles of those around us when compassion fatigue sets in.

So what’s the solution?

How do we guard against the weariness of generosity burnout, donor fatigue, selflessness exhaustion, solicitation anxiety, compassion fatigue, etc. (choose your label)?

Well, for starters, I see a few helpful tips contained within the two chapters I referenced above...

1. Understand that weariness is a progressive condition that takes place while we are “doing good.”

We “grow” weary. The onset is subtle and gradual. Learn to recognize the signs that lead you in this direction, and when you see them course correct yourself.

2. Know the primary purpose for your giving.

The first verse of 2Thess.3 gives us critical information: “…that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified…” It’s more than simply meeting a need. The purpose of our giving is to advance the kingdom by spreading God’s word and glorifying Him.

3. Be discerning.

In verses 6-15, Paul warns the believers to avoid disorderly busybodies who refuse to work. Verify a legitimate need by asking questions. This applies to individuals and organizations. Someone with a real need will not avoid inquiry.

4. Be willing to bear the burden.

Galatians 6:1-2 admonishes us to give of ourselves in order to see others restored in their walk with Christ. This can be difficult, as some burdens have a longer lifespan than others. But, verse 10 says that “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith.”

5. Remind yourself that giving always gives back.

In verse nine Paul is careful to point out the principal of sowing and reaping. He says that if we don’t lose heart, we will reap the benefits of our giving. But, here’s the key: “…in due season…” Be patient if you don’t see positive results right away. Trust God’s perfect timing for the harvest. It’s always more abundant than we can imagine.

The next time you feel the pangs of choice paralysis coming on, remind yourself that every one of the 35,000 decisions you will make today is made one at a time. You can decide right now that one of those choices will be to slow down and apply the helpful advice God gives us in His word.

When it comes to deciding which organization, or which person, you are to share your resources with, start by asking God to order your steps and direct your funds. That’s the best way I know to avoid the weary trap of compassion fatigue.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” (2Thess.3:16)

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com