December 9, by Heather Campbell

Advent Blog Entry
Psalms 42: 2-6

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Back when I was much shorter and – yes—much younger, my parents had the unfortunate tendency to get lost in grocery stores. I would turn my back just for a moment to look at something on a shelf and –poof!—they were gone! I’d start looking for them becoming more anxious and tearful by the second. Well-meaning adults would approach me and ask me unhelpful questions, such as: “Where are your parents?” and “Are you lost?” They’d lead me up to store office, an announcement would go out over the loudspeaker, and –poof!—my parents would reappear to claim me.

One day, I must have had more than enough of their wandering off. I told my rescuers that, no, I was not lost. I knew exactly where I was. As my father would later tell it, he and my mother were startled to hear much different loudspeaker announcement that day: “Shoppers! May I have your attention please! We have a little girl here who says her parents are lost!”

We look at the Advent season as a time of excitement and anticipation. Yet, Advent also brings to mind the plight of a subject people who cry out to God to send a Deliverer—the Messiah. Through the ages, the Jewish people continue to await the coming of the Messiah. It’s said that –even as they were marched into the Nazi gas chambers – they uttered the words of the 12th century Jewish sage Maimonides: “I believe with a full heart in the coming of the Messiah and—even though he may tarry—I will still wait for him”

The speaker in Psalms 42:2-6 feels abandoned by God. We can understand his feelings. Who among us hasn’t felt lost and longed to be found? Who among us hasn’t felt abandoned or betrayed at one time or another? Who among us hasn’t mourned a broken relationship and remembered better times? Who among us hasn’t yearned to be comforted? Who among us hasn’t struggled to keep their faith and longed for wholeness?

Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven. In the words of Saint Augustine:” You awaken us to delight in Your praise, for You made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” We are a restless people. We lead lives of constant distraction. At times, the world, its problems, and our own problems all seem too much for us to deal with on our own. We feel abandoned and alone. Help us to remember that You are always with us—even as we struggle—and lead us into a closer walk with You. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Heather Campbell is co-chair of the worship committee. Heather is the Manager of Special Services at the Jacksonville Public Library. She shares her home with her mother and two cats Jessie and Lydia. She is happy to report that her parents eventually grew out of their troublesome "getting lost in the grocery store" phase.