Today’s Sacred Story comes from Hosea 11: 1-9 where we are reminded that even as the people turn away and put their faith in the empty promises of others, God will not give them up.

This is about the time of year when I hear Texans wistfully talk about climates where the change of seasons is more apparent. People gaze longingly at romantic images of golden aspens in Colorado and frosty forests with pops of bright red holly berries. And I’ll admit that it seems wonderful from afar at times, but then I remember that it’s been snowing in some of these places for a month already and I’m pretty sure I would personally turn into a popsicle and die under such conditions. We may not live in a place with very many leaves that turn to fire as the air turns crisp or snow that covers the earth with a blanket, but we do know seasons. We may have fewer visual cues as other places, but we do experience a change in the earth’s rhythms that settles into our bones. I’ve noticed how the sun has begun to hit new angles as it comes through my window. My skin has noticed that the air has become drier. I feel my body insist on slowing down to store up potential energy for seasons to come.

We are now drawing closer and closer to the darkest days of the year – literally. It’s not just the time change, but the hours of daylight have already begun to dwindle. The nights will only grow longer from now until the solstice, and then only slowly begin to shift the other way.

The Bible often draws on such images and experiences of nature, pairing light and dark together. “A light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.” “so let your light shine before others.” But when these verses are read in a country and time founded and steeped in racial oppression, we cannot help but interpret scripture focusing on God's light to mean that light is THE source of goodness and hope. This belief implies darkness is not wanted or needed, it is something to banish or get rid of, or that God is not even present in the dark. Perhaps this season will help us to understand how the pair of light and dark exist together in balance, not opposition. After all, "What can light possibly mean without dark?"

During this season of Advent, as we draw closer and closer to the mystery of Christmas, we’ll be reflecting on how we anticipate God’s arrival in both light AND dark.

It’s not just that we know or appreciate light more so because of the dark, but that dark has value and beauty and blessing too. It’s not about re-writing the Bible, but reading it more fully and deeply so that we do not forget that God created both light and dark and called them good. This season compels us to break down the false dichotomy that light=good and dark=bad. In part because we acknowledge that this language, has been used to prop up the evil notion that white=good and black=bad. During this season we walk in darkness, and that’s not a bad thing. Nature needs this season of darkness to rest. There are many plants that can’t grow if they don’t get enough darkness during fall and winter.

Through the prophet Hosea, we see a God who is breaking down our dichotomies, our systems of either/or, domination and subjugation, our narrow views that force zero-sum, winner-takes-it-all ideologies.

We’ve been told, either in words or in action, that God can either be…

…generous OR fair

…consistent OR creative

…human OR divine

And yet here God speaks of finding both joy and heartbreak in the people. We see a God who feels, who is reflected in emotion, and who loves intimately. God speaks of Godself as a parent, as one who is with us and caring for us throughout the tender and messy moments of life. Human parents can sometimes reflect this for us, and sometimes it feels more like THEY are the ones that break our hearts and turn away. God speaks of Godself as the kind of parent our wandering hearts long for.

God is…

…The father who greets you when you come home beaming with pride at something you’ve made and puts your artwork on the fridge.

…The mother who, when you pushed that kid on the playground, helped you find the humility and courage to say I'm sorry.

…The step parent who cleaned up and brought you water when you had that stomach bug.

…The good auntie who let you put on her fancy jewelry, borrow her bold lipstick color, and who showed you how to dance with all your power.

…The abuelita who cooks your favorite foods for hours on end until you can’t possibly eat anymore, and then she STILL keeps cooking so you never even have to ask for more.

…even when we sneak out of the house.

…even when we break the heirloom vase.

…even when use again.

…even when we say hurtful things we can never take back.

…even when we are scraped up and bruised and don’t want to be seen.

…even when the voices have us convinced that we’re not worthy of love.

Even as the people turn away and put their faith in the empty promises of others, God will not give them up.

God’s love for the people is not dependent on the people’s love for God. God will not submit to the dichotomies of mortal standards. God is big enough to hold the multitude.

God knows both love and grief. When God’s children are hurt by their own schemes or oppressive violence or the cruelties of circumstance, when they neglect or are kept from the wholeness that they are created for and capable of….God grieves. God is heartbroken, confused, and angry. God shows us that these emotions themselves are not bad or forbidden. And God reveals that they can exist alongside hope, commitment, and faithfulness.

The people have a hard road ahead, but suffering does not equal separation from God. The people are broken AND they belong. God bends toward no matter how or how often we are bent. God’s love persists through every turn. God will dwell in our midst and defy destruction. Let it be so. Amen.

God will never: Give you up, let you down, run around and desert you.