Carol Two: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Listen to the above Carol, especially the first verse which goes like this:

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

This Carol, for me, sets the word, "Come" into a different tune and texture than our first Carol.  I especially love that third line, "from our fears and sins release us."  What we are talking about in the near-ness and now-ness of God, Emmanuel, with us and for us is that life as we know it can be completely changed.  Too often we let our fears grip us.  Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us that fear is necessary, even helpful.  It was good so that our ancestors knew that the lion over there was not exactly a nice kitty cat to go befriend and be petted.  Fear is tangled and twisted with our creativity, which is why people who procrastinate can sometimes feel a surge of ideas...it is the fear of failing kicking in.  But fear isn't always great.  It can blur our vision and blind our thinking.  So often fear teaches and tells us that either the brokenness is always your fault OR it is always someone else to blame - those people.  So, Gilbert, says you need to take fear on your journey but it cannot ride in the front seat or pick the radio station!

To be released from fear is a prayerful plea for people in all times and places.  In Jesus' day the cross was a symbol of fear - a way to keep the masses in line.  In our day we have been taught to fear the other.  When we are constantly surrounded by bad news, good news always seems like a bit of a fairy tale.  

What fears do you need to leave behind this year?

What sin (that is to say brokenness - or anger you keep feeding/fueling - or pain) do you need to leave in this year have so next year (which is waiting for us at the back barn door when we exit the stable) can sing a new song to your heart?

Listen again to the Carol holding onto these thoughts/ideas/insights as you do.

Prayer: I long for joy of God, so help me set down the other shards of life to make room for You, O God.  Amen.