In this month's reflection leading up up the start of Advent, Mark Berry helps us to be inspired by the courage of Mary and Joseph, who took the journey God had called them onto.
Stepping into the unknown is not just a risk of being a pioneer, of doing new things, it is the very nature of it. That’s not to say we don’t do our research, that we don’t plan, quite the opposite I have no doubt. But even with the most thorough research and the most careful planning, there comes a point when we have to go for it, where the next step is the one which takes us beyond what we know or can predict, into a world of uncertainty.
Safespace, my community here in Telford, adopted a phrase, a mantra if you like, to help with that moment. It was taken from the story of our patron saint, St Brendan the navigator, who is said to have sailed from Ireland to the Americas in a small leather boat. After all the careful preparation, the training, the gathering of resources, the mapping of the route, Brendan and his brothers had to step into their boat, untie from the jetty, take a deep breath and, set sail. So whenever we feel ourselves tempted to back away from the edge, we collectively encourage each other with the challenge to, “set sail”.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, over the years Advent has become the central season for us as a pioneer community. Advent is all about that step into the unknown and beginning that journey to Bethlehem and beyond. It’s the story of a young couple, visited by the divine, given a task that most would have seen most of us turning and running like the wind, choosing to trust in the words they had heard, in each other and in God. Let’s not paint them as Super Heroes, puffing out their chests and flexing their spiritual muscles, their hair flowing in the wind! They must have already had their doubts and fears as they prepared to begin their life together, what young couple doesn’t?
But, alongside this they had this extraordinary and disturbing calling, they had both had nocturnal visits from awesome angelic messengers… scary stuff! Alongside all of this, they hadn’t even got married yet, and Mary was pregnant! How would this be taken by their family and their community? What would people think? Yet, despite all those very human feelings, they were willing to “set sail”!
At Christmas we remember the moment God stepped into the world of humans as a vulnerable babe, poor and exposed. Advent is the tale of two, young, inexperienced and innocent humans who were willing to step, with both feet, into God’s world. They were willing to risk everything because they trusted God’s call, despite it being way beyond their comprehension!
Maybe this Advent is a time for you to take a step into the unknown, to risk starting the journey God has been calling you on, to board the ship and “set sail”.
Mark Berry is a pioneer, speaker, teacher and poet. Visit his website for an Advent poem, and feel free to use this material in your Gatherings and if you wish.