Advent 2022: Hope for Outcasts

Hope is dangerous.

It was hope that drew me to the church. Hope compelled me to believe that things could be as good as pastors and shepherds told me. Hope told me all things were possible in God—that I could be “saved” from a life of sin.

The hope I had during my early years of faith was childlike—I put my hope in those who were shaping my belief. I had many mothers and fathers in faith. Most said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” They were those who “casted vision” for the future. But by the beginning of 2020, I found myself crushed by the Tower of Babel masquerading as God’s Kingdom.

In Joy Vetterlein’s Reimagining Christmas book of reflections, she writes, “Hope is bad at obeying our protective instincts and good at leading us down paths we never thought we would take.” I wasn’t raised in any Christian tradition, though the Texas south swims in plenty of evangelical traditions. But it was sincere hope from a broken heart that led me to Christian faith.

Now in the “unchurched” season of life that my family and I lead, it is hope that encourages me to see we are still beloved and kept even when we don’t set a single foot in a sanctuary. Every misfit cast out and scapegoated in local congregations are still a part of a global movement that is far bigger and far larger than any single faith tradition.

Misfits matter.

Hope gives me the courage to see that if I shine my light in the right direction, I’ll find the path ahead, well-worn by the footsteps of those cast out and exiled before me. Hope connects me with my spiritual ancestors who had the courage and conviction to take the road through the wilderness.

It may have been sincere, juvenile hope that led me to spiritual bondage and fountains of faith-based snake oil, but a new, wisdom-soaked hope has me forging a new path in faith. It is hope leading me down the hard road ahead, compelling me to believe it is the same path that Christ tread. That he, too, walked this journey—battered, bruised, cast out, and wounded.

For those who are navigating this Advent as an outcast and misfit, I hope you find kinship with the greater communion of saints. I hope you remember the communion of exiles carrying their torches, walking the lonely path toward liberation and life in Jesus.

And when you find yourself in the darkest night of the soul, I hope you see the footprints of those who walked the lonely road before you.

With you & for you,

Jenai 🌾

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Visio Divina

If you’re familiar with Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading), you’ll know the practice is centered around viewing Scripture as a living word. Each reading is contemplated and centered around the person of Christ.

Visio Divina (Diving Seeing) is much the same, but with images. I created a series of Advent drawings with Visio Divina in mind, hoping that as you reflect on each image, you could experience the presence of Christ and the greater communion of the saints in the lonely journeys we walk.

My hope with each image is that you take a moment to reflect and find an extension of peace and rest as well as resonance.

You’ll find my additional thoughts on experiencing Advent as an outcast and misfit on Instagram.

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For those who may be interested in a wallpaper image for your phone

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For those who have deconverted from any sort of faith tradition, but still find spiritual things sacred, you might enjoy Joy Vetterlein’s Reimagining Christmas book of reflections.

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