So what’s your relationship with spontaneity like these days?

Does spontaneous living seem impossible? Or, is it just a way of life…at least when your iCal isn’t close at hand?

In my 20s spontaneity meant detours to Greek isles, really really late nights and other causes for industrial strength coffee. Today, I caught myself making plans with a friend for 2011. Yike.

In this Advent season—-a season dedicated to waiting and expectation—what role does spontaneity play? In the scenario we’re going to explore this week it takes a surprisingly important part. We’ll zoom in on the story of Mary to look at why she was able to make one the riskiest decisions in history…at a moment’s notice. How did she have such moxie? How can her life speak to our own? Ah, that’s this week’s journey.

ANCIENT ORIENTATION: If Mary were to tell us how she gained such moxie, I don’t know what she’d say. But here’s a meager attempt of her story in light of historical context.

So here’s my story…

And, I’ll tell you this: life never turns out how you think it will.

I’d say that everything changed when I was 14. But I suspect it was sooner than that.

As I was growing up frustration and hope just mingled in the air. Frustration came because we had to deal with all these Roman soldiers in our streets and near our synagogues and sometimes in the Temple courts. But hope resided with us as well. Some of us –especially my father – were expecting the Messiah to come. He would say to me in that kind of trembling whisper, “Mary, God is sure to rescue His people. Just wait and see.”

I guess that’s why I say it started well before I was 14.

In a lot of ways I was a typical Jewish teenage girl. I dreamed of marrying a good man, having sons, making my family proud. Of course, I was a virgin. Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought otherwise. I couldn’t imagine dishonoring my family in such a dramatic way.

But those were basically my dreams.

Except…I loved the Torah. And…something would stir in me when I heard the words of the prophets. But…the stories and songs from the Writings were my favorite. I could hear Hannah’s song 1000 times and the wonder of it would never be lost. Hannah – a woman – is the first to speak of the Messiah. And, she who had been barren gets to give birth to the prophet Samuel. Can you believe that? I’m sorry, I still get so excited about the way God choreographed it all.

Anyway, I would sing the Psalms as I would do work…just like my dad. He loved the psalms that spoke of God’s redemption. While I couldn’t go with the boys for Rabbinic training, I savored my time at the synagogue. It was like I had this little keep sake box and I would try to store away whatever I heard in that little box.

Some of my friends thought it curious, but at times, God just felt so close. I don’t know. Somehow I knew He would send a Savior.

Did I know that I would be the mother of the Savior? Did I know it would turn out like it did – with all its pain and all its joy? I never could of guessed. Never.

SACRED READING: Here’s how Scripture records Mary’s encounter with an angel, her interaction with a friend, and a song she writes in response to an audacious invitation. This is Luke 1:26-56 from the New Living Translation.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you

Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

49 For the Mighty One is holy,

and he has done great things for me.

50 He shows mercy from generation to generation

to all who fear him.
 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

52 He has brought down princes from their thrones

and exalted the humble.
 53 He has filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands.

54 He has helped his servant Israel

and remembered to be merciful.

55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,

to Abraham and his children forever.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

THIS WEEK’S PROVISIONS FOR YOUR ADVENT JOURNEY

REFLECTION: Mary made a life-defining choice on the spot—and in a very real sense it was a life-defying one as well. Having a child out of wedlock in those days was a grave shame. The woman’s reputation was not just at stake, her entire family’s name could be also ruined.

As I think about why Mary was so well poised to respond to the angel’s offer to mother the Son of God two aspects of her life come to mind:

1) HER STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY – Mary responds to Gabriel’s miraculous invitation by saying matter-of-factly, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38). As a teenager, Mary had already gained a profound understanding of her true identity. Her life’s call and capacity were not limited by her ability to make things happen for herself.

This is remarkable! As I edge toward 40, I still have to face down my fear of failure; I still struggle with trying to prove myself. Daily I have to be reminded that my identity is tied to something larger than what I do—ultimately it’s linked with Someone greater than myself.

Mary was able to respond with such openhandedness because she didn’t have to manage her reputation or promote herself. Her core identity wasn’t up for grabs; it wasn’t at stake.

Perhaps obeying audaciously and spontaneously is the most natural response when your identity is connected to God’s.

2) HER STURDY HISTORY WITH GOD: Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) was saturated with references from the Hebrew Scriptures. She had let the images and words of Scripture soak into her. She also seemed to see her life connected to a larger story – one where God had been active in generations before her and that those to come would celebrate what He’s done.

Mary paid attention to God’s word and work in the world. And…she recognized that God paid attention to her. To Mary, God wasn’t aloof or ambivalent.

God saw her. He was a good God who provides justice to the helpless and mercy to the humble.

I love that Mary had a sturdy trust in God’s character. I think this was vital for her to be game for such an adventure.

A doubt that has haunted me—and I suspect many others—is this: “God is holding out on me….Perhaps He’s not entirely good….Maybe He’s good to other people, but I can’t expect Him to be fully good to me.”

When I struggle with being up for my own adventure with God it often comes down to a trust issue. Some set of circumstances, some sneaky sadness, has convinced me that God is holding out on me.

What enabled Mary to be spontaneous? I believe it was a life of paying attention to the true character of God. This secured her identity and gave her a sturdy history with God.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: If someone came to you with an opportunity that could put your life at risk and jeopardize your family, what part of your identity would you most tightly cling to? What are a few words that describe your identity? What are a few words God might use to describe you?

How do you best build your own history with God? (i.e., Talking & Listening to God? Reading Scripture? Community/Church? Nature? Service? Writing? Singing?, etc?) What do you think has most influenced your view of God?

IMAGE OF GOD: Read through Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55). How does her view of God compare and contrast with your own? How might God want to heal your view of himself this week?

INVITE OTHERS INTO IT: As you spend time this week reflecting on your year, I encourage you to share your reflections with a dear friend. Perhaps you can meet for coffee or a meal to discuss this.

RESOURCES: Here’s a short playlist for reflections on Mary: 1) The Story, Brandi Carlile 2) The World Can Wait, Over the Rhine 3) I Found a Rest, Cat Power and 4) Bach’s Magnificat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKcMJwcgq4

I can’t resist hoping that each of us will happen upon a surprise this week—that we’ll get some spontaneous opportunity to respond like Mary. My prayer is that we’ll get time to pay attention to God, get a greater glimpse of His true character, and remember He sees us too. He comes with an audacious offer to be with us, and for us to bear His presence.

Maybe this week we’ll get the opportunity to help someone, to receive love, to change jobs or volunteer, or laugh until our belly screams for mercy. Who knows?

I’d love to hear what comes your way.

Cheers to sacred spontaneity,
Tam