In October, I offered to pick some windfall apples for a friend. She enthusiastically responded, “Yes, please, one box will be lots.” I agreed to do this, but I needed more information. In my mind, a box of apples is about 30 pounds – a standard apple box size when I was picking apples many years ago. I doubted that she wanted 30 pounds of apples, as she lives alone in a condo. How big is her box?
In Advent, our imaginations may focus on the gifts we will give and what size boxes we will need.
I think we all try to put God in a box, a box of our own creation. This box is just the right size for God to fit into comfortably – not too big and not too small. We create this box when we think we understand the limits of God. Here are some examples.
- God rewards good behaviour and punishes bad behaviour. Those who are punished must have done something that displeases God. (bad Karma?)
- God has made people with white skin superior to those with darker skin. Therefore, white people are entitled to more wealth, education, etc.
- People with a different sexual orientation are sinners.
Only Christians are loved and forgiven by God.
All good Christians must receive communion every week.
- God loves my favourite hockey team more than other teams.
- God prefers classical music to this modern stuff.
- God favours English over other languages
- God is male.
Etc.
We create boxes that fit a God we are comfortable with. A God that fits our limits. A God who looks like us, who supports us, who does what we want God to do. Each of us has a particular size and shape of box to reflect the size of God we put into our boxes. I think institutions, including our Church, have built boxes for God; boxes matching rules, policies and teachings that define our relationship with God.
Funny thing about God – She/He does not like boxes. The Creator of the world contained in the body of a human infant? The Creator of the world hanging on a cross? The Creator of the world blowing through the whole world, like wind, like tongues of fire? What size box can contain this God?
Advent may be a good time to ask God to show us the boxes, the rules, traditions, teachings, and assumptions that are getting in the way of our seeing God’s truth more clearly. May we have a clearer, broader view of what God asks us to do each day, one day at a time. May we have a deeper experience of God’s love for every person, for all created beings, and for ourselves. May we allow God to break down the walls of the boxes we have created.
