by Faith in Fukushima: Advent reflections and photos

Rain drumming on the rooftop sets the mood for this "first-morning-of-Christmas-break," and it seems like the perfect time to hole up in a pile of blankets and type. :) December always seems a little like a freight train heading downhill, picking up speed until it reaches a scary pace, and I sometimes wonder, as one of the riders, what will become of us in the plunge! Classes officially finished for the year yesterday, and the next few days simply hold preparations in the food, music, and game variety for the remaining Christmas Eve worship times and Christmas parties.

Christmas.

I've felt like a broken-record all Advent, telling my students again and again, "Jesus was not just a normal baby born in a stable! Christmas is bigger than a one-day celebration and the strangest birth the world's ever heard; Christmas has much more to offer than that."

And so we've been able to explore the depths and the heights, realizing again and again that this Baby is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of David, and the promised Messiah who reveals to us God as rightful Ruler and Prince of peace.

We've been able to ask real questions about faith and life and rest in the light and guidance of the Baby who is the Bright Morning Star.

We've been able to both cringe and rejoice at the sacrifice of the Lamb--the Baby born to die for sin and somehow wash us white in His blood.

We've been able to jump for joy with small children, realizing that this Baby offers to all who believe the right to be children of God.

We've been able to see promises fulfilled with Abraham, sing "Glory!" with the angels, and receive again and again the offer of life from the Word who was in the beginning and the King who, in the end, invites those who are thirsty to come drink from the water of life.

There is something about typing it all out again, putting it down in black-and-white, that brings a measure of awe into my heart. This is what we learned, what we talked about--what I had a chance to be a part of every week, every event, every day, every class. I pray that my students remember these discussions and Bible studies and receive the same gift of awe and wondrous joy.

And I pray, for myself and all of you readers experiencing a little motion sickness on the December freight train, that either in the midst of breath-taking speed or during the short lulls of rest and refueling, we might be filled with joy and awe at our Savior's birth--the Savior who was fully Baby and so much more!

Finally, some pictures from the last few weeks:

The Koriyama Christmas tree, decorated by several overly-excited children. :)