A widely respected minister, who planted churches decades ago that still thrive, preaches throughout the U.S. and England and coaches newbie ministers. He has earned a wide following by pointing to Jesus loving people when they are most vulnerable. I am grateful for a long friendship since the day he held my hand as a newbie minister.

At least once or twice a year, he reminds this vast network of his struggles with addiction. Once he recognized alcohol was killing him, he accepted help to end the cycle. Each day since that moment 17 years ago he counts as a new beginning.

Then he offers to speak with anyone in any time zone to trust the grace of God, and the people of AA to help them end their addiction and begin again.

With the heart of a pastor, he then pushes the rest of us to consider what might be killing us. It may not be as tangible as alcohol but still drains the life out of us. Could it be our fear of not being enough, so we drive to achieve at all costs? An anxiety we feed with toys or possessions? Or is it the no-way-out mundane that puts us into a zombie like routine?
During Advent we recall all the ways God meets us in the dark times. It begins slowly and feels so fragile, but God does appear. God is with us and tells us we are loved – just as we are. We begin again through the grace given in Jesus.

This Advent we will consider the endings that took place in the lives of the faithful and the risks they took to make room for new beginnings, never alone and always with God’s guidance.

Meet us this Advent to receive what God generously gives – a new beginning.