Thoughts on Lament and Christmas?!
I love the Holidays. I mean its a time of celebration and even anticipation. The anticipation begins the first week with setting up the Christmas tree and builds with each party and event. There is nothing like it. But as I think about the greatness of Christmas, it is easy to forget so many who do not share these great expectations. Christmas to many around the world and in our neighborhoods can me despair, pain, loss, and poverty. As we walk around looking at the lights and join in the carols and drinking the warm apple cider, there are many who can not be apart of this anticipation. This could be the first Christmas without a family member, or the first Christmas were there has not been enough money for presents or even rent.
In my class last night, we had a guest speaker talk to us about the idea of lament as a apart of our spiritual formation. We talked about the idea of what it means to be in a state of grief or sadness because something is just not right. He used a great definition of the word Lament and the hope that God can bring to these situations. He said, “Lament and hope must always go together. Lament insists that things are seriously wrong. Hope, on the other hand, maintains that God is committed to putting them right.” God wants to put all things right. What is not seriously right in your community, neighborhood, or even your church?
A huge portion of the Psalms is devoted to this idea of lament. There are many Psalms that expression adoration of the Lord, but there is also a large part of Psalms that question where the Lord is in troubled times. Is this not the realities of our lives. There are times when we can feel like the Lord is so near, but yet other times when we feel only distance and isolation. James l. Mayes writes about the Psalms and says, “The assumption behind all the psalms is that YHWH’s royal pleasure is found in the shalom of all who belong to his realm. Shalom means a wholeness and a rightness of existence that has physical, social, psychic and spiritual dimension. All of the troubles described in the prayers (suffering accusation, alienation, and hostility are disruptions of shalom.” God longs and desires to show up in these areas. He longs to bring Shalom to areas of life that are dark and desolate. But we must lament…
When is the last time you were really able to lament about injustice in your life or community. When was the last time you cried out to God for Him to bring Shaolm (wholeness and completeness) to theses things that are not right? These situations are everywhere, but we may disguise them with our Christmas carols or parties. Maybe God has called us to lament and cry out to Him to come in show up in our own worlds. And maybe its just okay to not feel the holiday cheer because things are just not right?
I hate to be a downer and spoil the fun. But can we just think about the idea of lament? What are we crying out to God to bring His Shalom to in our communities and our lives? 
good word, Josh. I took a writings class last quarter and we talked a lot about the idea and importance of Lament. I like what you wrote!
Josh, this is really good! I think so often we put on a “happy face” when it really is OK to cry out to God for relief, for comfort, for help…
I think so many times, I try to tough it out on my own and I have to remind myself that I can only feel comforted by God if I mourn and ask him to comfort me.
Great post. Hope you have a good time in OH and have safe travels! See you ice skating next Tuesday!