Renew
The Advent Word for today is 'renew'. So why the image of a soaring eagle? (Scroll to the bottom to find out.) Renewing things can be hard work. It can involve mending, cleaning, sanding, polishing, painting, taking apart and reassembling. To me, 'renew' can never mean replace the old with something completely different. I think of 'to renew' as meaning 'to transform', to create something better out of the material already there. That piece of furniture for example may look tired and worn out but in skilled hands can become like new. People can become tired and worn out, especially in difficult situations like facing illness, anxiety, uncertainty and grief. Rest may help, but is not always enough to give the strength needed to keep putting one foot in front of another each day. Hope is something that most certainly helps to keep going, the hope of finding new strength, renewed faith. In the Advent season, Christians read and hear many promises...