Artwork by Allison Keenan

Hebrews 1:10‒12

“But you’ll stay the same, year after year; you’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out” (Hebrews 1:12, The Message).

As the year comes to a close, very little has felt simple. We have experienced tremendous political unrest, increasing violence, racism, and discrimination. Joy has at times been hard to find. I know my soul is wearier than in years past. I yearn for the simple laughter of children, for more security, for peace, and to see more acts of kindness than rage.

One of my favorite Christmas stories is Barrington Bunny from Martin Bell’s The Way of the Wolf. Sometimes this year, God has been harder for me to find. Hebrews says that earth “will become threadbare like an old coat,” but God will never wear out. We may wear out in a season such as this, but God does not. And so I think of the image of the wolf in the story of Barrington Bunny this Advent.

“And no one anywhere in the forest noticed the great silver wolf who came to stand beside that brown lop-eared carcass. But the wolf did come. And he stood there. Without moving or saying a word. All Christmas day. Until it was night. And then he disappeared into the forest.”

Father, come stand beside us. As we hurt. As we question. As we celebrate. As we wait for your Son. As we love. Lord, be with us where we are.  We are grateful that you never fade. That you never wear out.

~ Vaughn Bell