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From the Bishop
Smooth traveling on rough roads
During the season of Advent, we read a variety of Scripture readings which talk about smooth traveling. We are promised by Isaiah that the coming of the Lord will "make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain" (Isaiah 40:3-4). The Gospel of Matthew sees this prophecy fulfilled in John the Baptist who comes proclaiming, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him" (Matthew 3:3). Somehow the presence of the Lord will make for smooth traveling in our lives.
In my travels as a bishop, I find that the road is often rough and uneven. Nearly everyone is dealing with some kind of hurts and bumps along the way. Many people have hit huge potholes that are deep and damaging. Most of our journeys are filled with ups and downs, and we seldom get to travel on smooth, flat and even routes. For almost all of us, life's journey is anything but smooth.
So what is this promise of smooth traveling? How does the presence of the Lord in our midst help to even out life's troubles? How does the Advent of Christ bring us a smoother journey through life? I believe God's presence that makes our journey smooth by two distinct processes:
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God's justice and
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Our willingness to forgive.
It is God's justice that evens out the unevenness of life. We can trust that God will level the high and haughty, and God will lift up the poor and dispossessed. God's justice will prevail, and we can count on that great promise to make life smooth and fair in the long run. Even though we may continue to experience the ups and downs, the bumps and bruises, and the potholes and sinkholes in the short run - God's justice will ultimately prevail and make this right. That promise is the source of the Magnificat sung by Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1:46-55.
As we live in faith and await God's justice, we can make our life's journey a smoother one right now, as we forgive those who have hurt us along the way. Forgiveness is the quality which makes wholeness, smoothness and evenness possible - right now.
I am not talking about being a doormat, and I am certainly not talking about neglecting justice for others. But I do believe that our willingness to forgive can make our life's journey much smoother. When we forgive those who hurt us, it is not an act of weakness - it is an act of strength. In fact, the New Testament word for "meekness" does not mean "weakness," it means "strength harnessed to the service of the master." It is the actual word which was used to describe a war horse - a strong and mighty horse whose strength had been harnessed for service.
Forgiveness is an act of strength. Forgiveness is an act of self-empowerment. Forgiveness means refusing to allow the person who has injured us also to control us. Forgiveness takes back our own control, our own power and our decision-making. Forgiveness helps to smooth the journey and to remove the potholes of hatred, resentment and bitterness from our life.
How does the Advent of the Lord make our life's journey more smooth and even? Advent promises us that God's justice will prevail, and this Advent invites us to forgive and to move forward.
During this season of Advent, I encourage you to forgive someone who doesn't deserve it. I encourage you to settle accounts with someone who has offended you. I encourage you to let go of old hurts, deep wounds and unresolved angers. Forgive someone. Do it for yourself, do it for the sake of Christ who comes to forgive all of us who don't deserve it, and do it to make your journey less bumpy. And then, you will find smooth traveling during this Advent season.
Bishop Michael J. Coyner
Indiana Area of
The United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ? in Indiana
and around the world"
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008