5 December Praise to the God who clears the way (StF 183)
How did people manage to travel, other than very locally, during the Second World War, when all the signposts were removed in case of a German invasion?
We probably don’t rely on signposts for travel advice, nor even maps these days, trusting mostly on computer-generated directions. But we do still need guidance, not only for travel, but also for the way we live, basic characteristics of living.
For those of faith, such guidance for life itself comes from our scriptures – read, spoken or sung – acknowledging our debt to God, enabling us to live in a worthwhile way.
This Advent hymn praises God for being ever present to help us, describing ways for change. How wonderful our world could be if attitudes like a love of power, pride, unreasonable desire, or greed, ceased to dominate so many people’s behaviour.
There would still be much sadness as we inevitably cope with the difficulties such as pain, suffering and loss. But this hymn, reflecting on God coming among us as Jesus, now through the power of God’s Spirit, reminds us that God is always there for us all, and also inspires us to be his ‘human angels’ caring for one another.
Ros Murphy
God our signpost,
help us this Advent to pay attention to your direction
as you open up for us new ways of living
which bring blessing to us and those around us,
following Jesus’ example of caring for all. Amen.
