Today it has blown up big time as we heard announced this morning that the Prime Minister's leadership has been challenged by a call to a vote of no confidence.
Whichever side we sit on in the Brexit debate, whether we think we should go back to a People's Vote or go through with no deal, whether we are hoping for any deal or whether we just hope the whole thing would go away.... we all are affected by this. The amount of money and time that has been spent on Brexit, it has taken resources away from those services we desperately need like the NHS and schools and social services and police and fire services and all of those things that help us work well as a country - all those things we are proud of.... it has taken the focus away from those who are already at the bottom and are struggling to find a way forward.... The news is depressing, repetitive and concerning....
Yet as we sit in the second week of advent we are reminded of a voice.... a voice that cries out in the wilderness.... a voice that cries from the physical wilderness into the wilderness of the Roman world..... into the wilderness of the Brexit chaos...
"Prepare a way...."
As we deal with the uncertainty around the future, our non-functioning government and our concerns for this country, advent calls us to pause and listen.... if parliament would only pause and listen - to the people, to wisdom, to the bigger picture, then the way forward might just become clear....
Get off the rollercoaster
Stop
Listen....
"Prepare a way..."
John the Baptist spoke the words 'prepare a way' quoting from the prophet Isaiah to people who were certain of what they wanted and how it was going to happen and would have happily fixed things themselves (but knew they couldn't).... he promised hope of a future that would take them beyond their wilderness...
As we sit in the chaos in the middle of advent, then a reminder of the hope that Christ brings to this broken world is needed more than ever....
"Prepare a way...."
As we sit and wait, we pray.
God who makes all things new, we pray for our nation.
We pray for wisdom for our Government.
We pray that our Government would stop, listen, and work together to find the way forward.
We pray that it will quickly become clear.
We pray for those who are suffering most because of the uncertainty of the future
- for those who have seen the little they have being taken away
- for those who are stuck behind walls of paperwork and hostility as they seek to make a home
- for those who are struck by such deep anxiety because of the uncertainty that they don't know how to live.
Lord have mercy. Help us to be people of love and peace and mercy and justice as we walk the way of Christ, who humbled himself as a servant, not lording it over others, but seeking their welfare and bringing them abundant life in Him.
Help us to find the way in the wilderness
Amen
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