Follow the Clue {Advent 1}

As our son was watching the History channel the other day, I heard a story , an ancient myth really,  of a guy who was sentenced to be thrown into an unescapeable labyrinth.   A maze made up of such twists and turns that even the designer had a difficult time finding his way out.  No one had ever come out of the labyrinth. It was an impossible feat.  However, the man who was sent into the labyrinth though was secretly given a gift of a ball of thread in order to find his way out again.  And this ball of string was called a “clue”. He was literally given a clue to find his way out! He was to attach it to the door of the labyrinth after he was closed in, and after all his wandering, he could follow it back to the beginning.

In some ways, Advent is like that for me.  I often find myself stuck in the endless labyrinth of life, the holiday season, busyness, buying, parties, messiness, and just the chaos of everyday.  But Advent, like that ball of twine – like that clue - tugs at me and draws me out.  It leads me back to the beginning of a story I stake my life on.  It is a clue that leads me back to the door of an obscure stable somewhere in Bethlehem where God did impossible things.  It leads me back to the hope that God is still in the business of doing impossible things on this planet!

The first candle of Advent we light is the candle of Hope. We follow the "clue" and we see the hope the Israelites had for a Messiah to come.

Is. 9:1-7

 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.

  For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Advent...at least this week...is a CLUE for us – to lead us back and to remind us not to lose hope. That God will do what He says He will do. To remind us that God is still in the business of showing up...and we can place our hope in Him.

So...would you practice Advent with me this week?  But you need to find a piece of string, please . Maybe you feel a bit like the guy thrown in the labyrinth.... well, this (the piece of string) is your clue.  Would you tie it to your keychain or a necklace, or the steering wheel of your car or your finger or someplace you will see it often....and when you do see it this week would you let it be the "clue" that leads you?  Would you let it lead you, in that moment, back to hope in God to do the impossible again this week?