”Dreaming” Advent Devotion for December 29, 2021

Dreaming

Written by Claire Douglass, Pastor of Youth & Young Adults

Read by Denise Utter

 

… But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared

to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be

afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is

conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth

to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because

he will save his people from their sins.’

-- Matthew 1:20-21

You may be surprised to learn that according to the Guinness book of World Records, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” as recorded by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time. No one can deny that listening to White Christmas is quintessential part of our Christmas experience, but it was originally a bit of a dark horse. Penned by Irving Berlin for the blockbuster musical film Holiday Inn, everyone expected that another song “Be Careful It’s My Heart” would be the film’s biggest musical hit. But as Holiday Inn was about to be released, the United States entered World War II. Suddenly White Christmas with its dreams of glistening treetops and sleigh bells ringing in the snow captured the hearts and minds of families missing loved ones around the world.

Advent is a season made for dreaming, for reflecting on the past and imagining the future. It is a season for challenging ourselves to look past the obvious and believe in a world where angels might appear, the impossible might happen and God might be where we least expect. But the story of Joseph reminds us that not all dreams are merry and bright. Some dreams may be challenging and send us in new directions in life. Some dreams are meant to push us beyond what we believe is possible to become the kind of people who change the world. This advent season, let us all dream big dreams. The kind of dreams that push us beyond what is comfortable and easy, that together we may become a Christmas people ready to change the world.

 

Loving God, thank you for this season of dreaming that offers hope for change to come into a waiting world.  Amen