'Tis the Season

Living in a country where Mayan traditions and beliefs still abound, it is relevant to understand the supposed apocalyptic prophecy that awaits its fulfillment this upcoming 21st of December. Although utterly misunderstood, the end of this era marked by the Mayan calendar is causing people in Guatemala to think about what the end could possibly look like. Even with our kids here at the orphanage, questions arise about what the end of the world would like and where we would fit into that story. Unfortunately, scenes of Left Behind mixed with local folklore dance through their young minds causing some of our kids to feel scared while others feel hopeless.

At the same time, it is interesting to think about the theme of hope that is often associated with this Christmas season. This concept becomes even more congruent with our kids as we take them to their court hearings, where their fate is placed in the hands of a judge. In those moments we cannot offer any certainty of what their living situation will look like; whether they will return with a family member, be sent to another orphanage or come home with us. So, as I think about what we do have to offer them, I am so thankful that God has allowed us to have hope. We may be unsure what this December or even 2013 will hold for this nation and the children that call it home, but there is one thing we can be sure of: God made a way for us to have peace in spite of any circumstance. God decided to reach out and offer us all something much more than we could imagine. The fulfillment of God's prophecy is that He chooses us and responds to us in love, instead of uncertainty and pain. So, as we enter the Christmas season and simultaneously draw closer to the end of this Mayan era, it is my intent to discover hope on a deeper level believing that by its very nature, hope proliferates and radiates, instilling itself in those close by. After all, in response to any doubt, sadness, questions, concerns or struggles brought about by this season, I want to be able to offer hope as my response.

dsm