There are almost as many cries as there are hearts in our world and each of us has our own.  Some of them resonate deeply with me as I become ever more aware of the number of shopping days … to Christmas.!

The Cry for Sabbath
In this world in which we are constantly bombarded with messages about rest, relaxation, the number of shopping days to Christmas,  the truth is that we are working harder than any previous generation.  We often run on empty and do harm to the delicate balance of our bodies…[ I know about this one!] But, rest itself is not enough, sleep alone will not silence this cry.  A deeper rest is called for, an inner rest… a rest in the embrace of a loving God… Could this be the cry you need to respond to this Advent?

The Cry of Sorrow
Maybe, this Advent yours is a cry of sorrow, of grief which knows no words and can only be expressed in tears.  This is  difficult and painful cry.

It is a cry which leaves us vulnerable and fragile, but one which also brings us close to the cries of Jesus on the cross and to those of our brothers and sisters.  It is the cry which exposes us but which also reminds us that in our humanity, we all cry out in sorrow.  If this is your cry this year-it puts us deeply in touch with the broken-hearted of our world- and they are many.

The Cry for intimacy
One of our deepest cries is the cry for intimacy, for love, love of God and love of others.  Paradoxically, it would seem that we need to experience 'aloneness' to be open to God.  The cries of other loves such as material possessions, the noise of our modern world prevent us from entering into this stillness where we can hear the cry of God's heart and be held in his embrace.  Gift yourself with time to hear this cry if you can this Advent Then from the joy of this embrace, you will be able to answer the call to be sister, brother, friend, Good News to others.

The Cry for more
The hunger for more permeates our world.  We want more but do we really need it?
We live in a world of demanders.  Yet, that which is really vital to our existence cannot be demanded.  We cannot demand love or trust and many of our cries for more cannot be met except by ourselves and by  God.  Maybe this Advent our cry for more could mean that we try to appreciate and love ourselves and others MORE.

A Cry for the Brokenness of our world
A compassionate holding of a cry in my heart puts me in solidarity with all the cries of the world.  This response enables me to be a herald for the coming of Christ once again into our world this Christmas.  Perhaps, then  I will  hear the cry of the newborn child and understand in a new way how God's heart cries out in pain and in love for our broken world.