A spiritual impulse for the 4th Advent
Christmas is celebrated all over the world and almost everywhere in a very different way than here. But Jesus came for all people and is happy for all kinds of birthday celebrations, says Pastor Felix Weise in his spiritual impulse for the fourth Advent.
Green, blue, red. Blinking tirelessly between cell phone advertisements and small packets of chips at a kiosk. So she stayed there. I realized, for the first time, that the Christmas season had begun: a figure of Jesus. As big as a hand and with all the characteristics necessary to recognize it as Jesus: white robe and flowing hair. Above all, though, he blinked incessantly. Otherwise, in Satchiyapuram in South India, there was almost nothing to indicate that Christmas was coming. A poinsettia in one shop or another, but no gingerbread, no smell of mulled wine, no Schwipp bows in the windows.
I had an unusual Christmas for me this year, which was a while ago. For one year I lived as a volunteer of EMS, the Evangelical Solidarity Mission, in India in a Christian home for children with disabilities.
But not only the flashing Jesus differed from our Christmas traditions. No cozy Advent evenings, huddled up in the living room with tea and Christmas oratory. Too hot for that. I lived the pre-Christmas period not very contemplative or calm. The Christmas parties I was invited to were cheerful, colourful, full of games and fun. We danced, sang and at the Christmas party in an orphanage we played a lot of ball, almost like celebrating a birthday. I remember being fascinated by how different Christmas celebrations can be. The joy of having a child – after all, the Messiah – was most tangible for me in India. Much more birthday celebration than our contemplative family celebration.
Of course, I also missed some of the local traditions a bit: singing “Light the Door” during the first Advent or Advent devotions and then driving home in the freezing cold.
Sometimes I think back to that moment now. Some years I don’t feel as contemplative as I would like during the Advent season. During some Advent seasons, I wasn’t so keen on another contemplative text and another clever message behind an Advent calendar door.
Then I think of Jesus blinking, the pre-Christmas game of dream catcher and Christmas dances and I say to myself: this Jesus, as he then goes through life, has a soft spot for all the different forms. He has come for everyone. For all those who use the Advent season for silent contemplation and for all those who want to celebrate properly again. With dances and games of tag. For all those for whom Christmas is coming too fast and for all those who have nothing else to do during the Christmas season due to all the presents they buy. At Christmas we celebrate the light of him shining in the dark, like a cozy flickering Advent candle and a cheerfully flashing Jesus figure.
By Pastor Felix Weise
