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Two Christmas seasons ago on a cold Friday evening as I am crossing the street to catch my train, a man on a bicycle approaches and calls out my name. “How are you? I have not seen you in a while?”
I say, “Fine, and how about you?”
“Not so good. I am homeless and living by the train tracks. I feel like jumping in front of a freight train and ending it.”
Wow. Not the type of words I want to hear after an exhausting work week. . . .
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with the passage of time. Visualizing the timelines of human history became part of my life’s work as an historian, but even as early as 5th grade, I realized that my mind measured the cycles of time in shapes and colors. To make sense of a long past, humans have organized time, by hours, days, decades, centuries, eras, and ages.
When we skip Advent and go straight to Christmas, we neglect to understand that “Peace on earth, goodwill to all” is a statement that our world, our communities, and likely ourselves aren’t at peace. In the midst of political turmoil and wars, in the midst of refugees and immigrants, in the midst of looming depression and loss of loved ones, so many of us cry out, “Where is God? Where is the Divine presence in this?”
It’s ironic to be asked to share some reflections on the word “overwhelmed” at this season, the busiest time of the year for many musicians, including myself. I feel as if I could be the poster child for the concept of being overwhelmed! In addition to the typical stresses that accompany the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, musicians have added music to learn, extra rehearsals, and often a full calendar of performances. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
This Advent, while not ignoring the negative or heaviness of being overwhelmed, we are also searching for its antithesis: the surprise of being overwhelmed with good. Overwhelmed with calm. With quiet. With insight. With choice. With freedom. With opportunity. With potential. With sameness. With relationships. With ritual. And the list goes on.