fire temple--entering into the season of advent

as we enter the season of advent, i thought i would share with you some images, song lyrics, and a quote that will I will be keeping in and around me this season...that for many brings forth anxiety not peace, fear not rest, loneliness not community.

...may they bring life to you as well

The icon is called Fire Temple,
by a local friend artist named Joy Banks in Vancouver, BC.

Our TN community is going to use this as a central image for entering unto advent this year. As my friend and coworker said,
"The piece explores how we are all having Christ formed within us--we are temples of the living God set aflame with the Holy Spirit/holy life within us-- burning bushes through whom others encounter God as that life is forming. It also speaks to the waiting and anticipation of the advent season that focuses on how God was born into human flesh."

a song that was written after seeing this image...

Fire Temple -Tom Wuest

May I be your fire temple
Make your home in me
Jesus, I'm your fire temple
What grace to carry Thee

My breast a burning bush

Your living flame within
This temple formed of dust
Bears You, O holy Child

And a quote from one of my favorites,

“The issues of the world are very important.
But I have to learn to approach them from the heart of God. I have to be deeply rooted in God’s heart before I can know how to respond faithfully to these issues…The closer you are to the heart of God, the closer you come to the heart of the world, the closer you come to others. God is a demanding God, but when you give your heart of God, you find your heart’s desires. You will also find your brother or sister right there. We’re called always to action, but that action must not be driven, obsessive, or guilt-ridden.
It’s action that comes out of knowing God’s love.”
-Henri Nouwen

May we be formed anew this season...may Christ be formed anew within us.

winter presses in...

As the snow began falling today, I couldn't help but think of how some of my friends will fare this winter.

Whether its Brenda who's padding her old van (home) with Styrofoam this week to prepare for winter, or the many farmworkers who will be holing up for winter without any income until spring...the change of weather definitely hits the poorest of the poor the hardest. We see more people during this time coming through our Family Support Center doors, seeking relief for rent payments, blankets & winter coats, and the never-ceasing utility bills.

Today a white 40-something-yr-old lady came in asking for help with her water bill. Anything will help she tells me. I ask my usual questions, wondering if she has tried to set up a payment plan or gone to the largest community service agency in the valley to ask for help. We call to save her the trip, and I'm told, 'we're not doing water bills anymore'. Payment plan won't work she says, because her water has been turned off. We decide to help her with a portion of her $190 bill and call over to make a payment with our emergency funds. Unfortunately because this is her second time to get it turned off, they just tacked on an extra $190, and there was some other fee, to make a new total of $340.

She fights back tears after I tell her the news. How is someone who was unable to make her monthly payments, gets her water cutoff, now able to make a payment 3, 4, 5 times the usual amount to get her water reinstated? The battles against the poor seem insurmountable at times.

Our migrant seasonal worker friends, face even less prospects this year. Jobs are even scarcer to come by, and the winter projected to be even colder. For one Mixtec family I know in particular, entering the winter is clouded with the father's deportation last week. He was picked up for driving with a suspended license. Fortunately the mother has work, but her income will be far from enough to sustain herself and 12 others: her mother-in-law and her two young kids, her nephew and his wife and two kids, and her own 5 kids. Last week I brought 4 of the kids over to my house for the afternoon, per their request. We drank smoothies, ate grilled cheese sandwiches, and watched Mr. Bean...also per their request.

I am grateful to be in relationship with these friends. And yet long for more. For the poor to not be burdened, not knowing how they will pay the most basic of bills and eat the most basic of foods; for the homeless to be housed; for the unjustly accused to be set free. I am reminded of a favorite passage...

Is this not the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your kin?

~isaiah 58:6-7

And so I pray for wisdom...
...how to care, love, support, and advocate alongside those in need. We make small payments to utility and rent bills, pass out blankets and baby diaper coupons, fill out resumes, and job applications. We pray with people for healing, for miracles, for debt forgiveness.
We ask...
...and yet seek to be content and yearn for more at the same time.

These realities make me all the more thankFULL in this thanksGIVING week. As you join me in thanksgiving this week for bountiful blessings--small and large--will you join me in the cry for provision for those who have the least?