Is There Still Room?

As we start 2022, I hope you’ve recovered from the busyness of the Christmas season. For most of us, this was the second Christmas that was disrupted by COVID-19, but I hope you’ve been able to find joy despite all of the cancellations, lockdowns, and uncertainty. I pray that the story of God’s coming into the world has shone light into whatever darkness you may be experiencing.

That, of course, is what Christmas is all about. God has come! The infinite creator of the universe has taken on human form so that we might know more clearly who God is and what God expects of us. Jesus, the saviour of the world, was born in Bethlehem to the virgin Mary and her husband Joseph, just as the angel told them it would happen. In Jesus, God showed up!

In the Advent season before Christmas, we prepared ourselves for this arrival. We followed along with the Scriptures and remembered the people of God who waited their whole lives for the coming of the Messiah. We journeyed with Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph as they waited eagerly to see if God would keep God’s promises.

But Advent isn’t only about the coming of Jesus as a baby just over 2,000 years ago. Of course that’s a large part of it, but historically the Church has always remembered two other aspects of Jesus’ arrival. First of all, as we remember Jesus’ first coming, we look forward with eager anticipation to His return when all things will be made right. We are still Advent people, waiting for the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the renewal of all things. 

Secondly, the season of Advent reminds us that God is longing to be present in each of our hearts right now. The Holy Spirit is continually on the move, and each of us have to make the choice to make room for God in our lives. Advent reminds us to stop, to notice God at work right now, and to be attentive to how we can participate in what God is doing in the world. 

But advent is over, and so is Christmas. The new year has been rung in and we’re back to “regular” life. We’re back to regular schedules, responsibilities, and activities. We’re back to making ends meet, sorting out messy relationships, and planning for our futures. We’re back to all the distractions that can take us away from the divine in our lives. So what do we do?

The simple answer is that we just need to make room. We just need to take the time. Like the inn-keepers who turned Jesus’ parents away because there was no room left, we too face the challenges of over-crowding our lives. When we prioritize other things, God is subjected to the background (or the stables), receiving the second or third best of what we have.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been told that God deserves the best part of my day. If I want to be a good Christian, then I need to prioritize the time when I’m at my best to spend it with God. Whether it be Bible reading, prayer, or another spiritual practice, I need to make room so that God can arrive in my life.

But like I said, that’s only the simple answer. This past year, and this entire pandemic, has given me a new perspective on what it means to make room for God. Why? Because this is the first time in my life when I can’t think of what the best part of my day is. 

I know we’re all experiencing this pandemic differently, and I don’t want to forget that I have so much to be thankful for. I have my family, health, work, shelter, food, and everything else I need to survive. But after a year and a half, all the changes, stresses, divisions, and lockdowns are getting to me. I feel worn out and lack the motivation to do much more than what I need in order to get by. 

I know I’m not the only one. I hear from many people that, although they don’t want to complain, they aren’t thriving right now. We might be managing, or even be managing quite well, but for many it’s hard to start new things or make new commitments. The last thing I need to hear is that in order for God to show up in my life, I need to do more and be better. Where else can I make room? What best part of my day do I have to offer?

“The fact that there was no room in the inn couldn’t stop God’s arrival.”

But here’s what I realized after doing some more reflection on Advent. The fact that there was no room in the inn couldn’t stop God’s arrival. Poor Mary, a teenager, must have been so afraid as she felt the time of delivery drawing near. And Joseph, wanting to care for his new bride, must have been trying frantically to find a place for them. Even so, all they got was a stable. But again, that didn’t stop God from coming - not in the slightest.

Sure, some of us might be thriving right now and feeling ready for new adventures in our faith journey. That’s amazing! But if you’re like me and you’re feeling the guilt of not making enough room (or the right type of room) for God, it’s okay. God knows what you’re going through and cares more about you than about what you’re able to do.

The most faithful response that we can offer God is to simply open the door of our heart, regardless of what our life looks like. Whether it’s neat, tidy, and full of life, or dark, cold, and full of fear, nothing will stop God from coming and living with us as long as we let God in. If you ever think that God wouldn’t want to be part of what you’re going through, remember that the newborn King of Kings was placed in a manger, the feeding trough for animals. 

There’s always room in our lives for God because God doesn’t need us to pretend or put on a show. We don’t have to make promises or resolutions. We don’t have to start new disciplines or practices. Simply invite God in. Invite God into the messiness, chaos, and stress. Allow God to sit with you in the uncertainty, loneliness, and loss. Listen for God’s voice in the frustration, division, and pain. None of that will stop God from coming. In fact, you’ll be amazed at what God can do from there.