The story of Easter is that God didn’t just become human but He went through the most human experience of all in death, and He did that in a way that was shameful and difficult, and a real struggle, and was a result of the activism that He had been a part of in His ministry leading up to that point.

volunteering.  or how many dollars they donate to end hunger, or poverty, or oppression.  It’s not measured by how many people say the sinners prayer.  And it’s not measured by how many people become less sexist or racist or classist on any given day.  I don’t you can measure it at all.  It’s like trying to measure a giggle, or the taste of chocolate, or how you feel when your baby smiles for the first time.  There are some things that cannot be measured.  If growing renewal isn’t something that can be measured, or easily defined, how is it that you can recognise it?

going down this particular road  They were on their way somewhere, they were going about their daily business, and they came across somebody who was in need, and they all had different responses.

The reason that I’m afraid is because when I think of the Spirit, there’s this sense of disconnection sometimes.  The Spirit is at work in the world growing through all things.  Working towards the renewal of all things.  The Spirit is there, whether we see it not.  Whether we know it or not.  Whether we participate in it or not.

What happens when we can’t find the joy. Or nothing feels merry and bright. What happens if we’re grieving a family member, and this is the first Christmas without them. What if we’re feeling the financial burden of a holiday under capitalism, and can’t afford mountains of presents or food for our children or families, even though we give everything to make sure they don’t miss out. What if we’re deep in the darkness of mental health issues and can’t see a way out. What if we’re struggling with eating disorders around a holiday based so much around food and communal meals. What if we’re stuck on the other side of the country, or the world, because of the pandemic. And we won’t be able to see our families for the second year in a row. What if our families is not a safe place for us to be. But the pressure of Christmas Day means we have to be there with them, at the detriment of ourselves. What if this time of year brings up memories of trauma relating to families, or Christmas, or anything. What if nothing seems merry or bright. What if the dark seems all consuming - or never ending.

Human beings are designed to resonate with the heart of God. When Jesus says in John 8:28, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ that’s what He was talking about. He wasn’t talking about you will get your bible and you will suck out all the verses on that topic, and then you will do a reductionist process and come out with principles and rules. He’s not saying you will know the truth like that. He was saying you will hear something, and you will go ‘Yes. Yes.’