Dear friends—

Welp, here in Michigan, December has ushered itself into our lives in a truly gray, wet, and cold way!  This is the gloomiest kind of day, and it feels far, far from Christmas festive.  Somehow, to me at least, it feels right.  The world does not feel festive right now, or if there is any festiveness, it feels artificial and forced.  Our world is obviously broken.  The temporary truce in Palestine is over, and the Israeli bombing campaign has begun again in earnest.  We are seeing the Israeli government crack down on Palestinians in the West Bank, and over the last seven days, we have seen hundreds of women and children (really, children!) being released from Israeli military prisons.  Most of those being released from detention were young people who were being held without due process, and there are accounts of torture and violence.  It is beyond heartbreaking.

This crisis feels so immensely personal.  Partly because our tax dollars are being used to bomb innocent people but also because we don’t always trust our own instincts in how to speak about the violence we are seeing.  We care about our Jewish friends and neighbors.  We honor that we are part of the same religious lineage.  And at the same time, we see the State of Israel descending into a radical, right-wing nationalist theocracy that is demonizing all Palestinians as barbaric and violent.  One can (and I would argue we must) be anti-Zionist without being antisemitic.  Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Israel and his government is immensely radical.  I believe that he and his regime is making the world more dangerous for our Jewish friends.  And all you have to do is open the news or social media to see this extreme damage his government is perpetuating on Palestine.

While this is painful and scary, I have also been profoundly moved by the global movement of resistance.  People of all religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds are coming together to call for the end of the ethnic cleansing happening in the state of Israel.  People of all ages are seeing injustice and violence and are calling for an end.  Most inspiring are our Jewish neighbors who are lifting their voices in opposition, often risking their connections with their families and communities.  Truly, friends, we are witnessing the absolute worst AND the most beautiful parts of humanity. 

This is the true nature of Advent.  Holding the best and the hardest parts of being a human being.  Being willing to have your heart broken and moved at the same time.  Feeling hopeless and hopeful in the same moment.  Knowing that God’s purpose is unfolding before us while still doubting its truth and power.  These paradoxes are not in opposition to our Advent journey.  They are our Advent journey.

So, lean into your Advent journey this year.  Take a step back from the busyness and forced cheerfulness of this season.  Offer what you see to God and remember that we stand in a long line of people of faith who refuse to look away to maintain our own comfort. 

Blessings and love to you all,
Deb