Choose Your Own Adventure
Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? This series of books began circulating in the 1980’s. You start the book and read for some time as the setting and characters are introduced. Then, just as you’re settling into the content, conflict arises, tension escalates, and you have the choice! The choice to turn to either page X or page Y to continue on with the drama at hand. Sometimes the story ends abruptly, while other times the story continues to twist and turn, with even more gripping, page-turning, plot choices to make.
What an idea! What a fun way to encourage reading and even allow the reader a choice in moving the plot forward. What will happen next if I turn to page 48?! Oh wait, maybe I should go to page 72. What will happen to the main character? I must read on to find out.
During this season of Advent in particular, I have felt like the pages of life have been a bit of a Choose your Own Adventure. Not that I’ve had control over things and the ability to turn my own pages, but from the perspective that I don’t know what’s coming next. There have been both joyous days, days of trial, and even a bit of mystery.
Maybe you’re reading this and your “Advent Adventure” has been full of hope, peace, joy and love. Each candle on the Advent wreath has been represented in your life, and you’ve set aside time to sit in peace to journey closer to Jesus as the manger and our hearts prepare to celebrate His coming. Reading from this plot, we become fully aware that Jesus, the protagonist, comes not only as a baby; not only at the end of time; but Jesus comes each and every day. Jesus comes to encounter us now. To bring peace now. Resting in this truth brings a fullness to our Advent.
Or maybe you’re reading this, and turning the pages each day this holiday season is hard. Loved ones who have passed are not around to visit, call or celebrate Christmas with. Maybe your kids or your students have been sick, or you're fighting off feeling not-quite-100%. Or there’s just so much on your To-Do List.
Think of the parable of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, where He leaves the 99 to go in search of the one lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14). He finds the one lost sheep trapped and tangled in the thicket. Fear and panic are setting in with this stuck sheep. But, keep turning the page, because Jesus comes to the rescue and frees the sheep. Not only does Jesus safely release the sheep, but Jesus knows the sheep is tired from struggling, so Jesus lifts the sheep onto his strong shoulders and carries it back to the refuge of the other 99. And then? Jesus REJOICES. Jesus rejoices in bringing back this one sheep.
“So it is not the will of Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” Matthew 18:14
Whether you are “reading” life with a heart full of hope, peace and joy this Advent, or whether the days are a bit heavy and you’re feeling stuck in the thicket, I pray that you find consolation in the parable of the lost sheep.
May we have hope that we have a constant Protagonist in our story.
May we find peace as we read each page of life knowing there is a constant theme of our own rescue.
No matter how the elements of our own plot may change on a daily basis, may we find comfort and joy in this rescue story.
