brian shivers

 

 

 

 

Can you love this moment? Not the kind of love that inexplicably pulls you ever closer to another. No, a different kind of love. A love of this singular, unrepeatable, flash of time that exists only this once and will never happen again. A love that drives you into the mystery of existence, where there is joy and sorrow, living and dying, promise and despair. Perhaps, living fully in the midst is what it means to love. -bshivers

Joy will always be elusive as long as it is pursued as if it exists somewhere outside of self. Joy is a decisive act of resistance, a rebellion of possibility and perhaps in world full of “not yets” and “it will never happen”. Joy sees the hope-filled unfolding of what may yet be even in the stark reality of what is. This is joy. Joy is here. - bshivers

Peace is harmony, wholeness, completeness, presence with, and in the midst no matter what is or what may come next. -bshivers

The days are long. The nights are even longer. The anxiety overwhelming. The worry palpable. And yet, Sunday we light a candle; a candle we name Hope. We call it by this name because we have come to understand that what we see isn't all that is, and what we think we know is far from everything. We are called to live into the promise this small flame represents; living as if in a world of not yets. And so the season of waiting begins in Hope. -bshivers

I must confess, it is really tempting to run headlong into the Christmas season this year. I mean, who doesn't want more light, more joy-filled music, more decorations, more "tidings of comfort and joy"?  The world feels so heavy right now. There days are shorter, yet somehow each one seems to last forever. Every 24 hours is full of more Covid cases, more hospitalizations, and more death. The news cycle is an incessant metronome of infection numbers, overburdened systems, and political drama. And yet simultaneously, each day seems to be an almost exact carbon copy of the day before, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before . . . Yes, we all desire the "good news of great joy for all the people". I know I do. However, what I think I really need this year is Advent. I need the waiting. I need the liminal space of the almost but not yet. I need the anticipation of something new. I need it because that is exactly where I am living every s...

Fear is mass produced in the sweatshops of lies and the factories of half truths. It is perpetuated by the narrative of scarcity and is hocked under the guise of "safety", "needs", and "wants". Faith is the ultimate act of rebellion against fear's tyrannical reign. It dwells in the hearts of all flesh and bone who risk resistance. It is incarnate in the joy, peace, hope, and love that mark the lives of those who dare to believe a different story. Advent is what we call the re bellion. Let us rebel together.  # jointherebellion

Love is. Love is decisive. Love is relentless. Love is stubborn. Love is  no matter what; no matter when; no matter the cost. Love is "yes, and". Love is "with". Love is “for” first. Love is reckless and illogical. Love stands when it more convenient to sit. Love stays when it is easier to leave. Love is silent when all you want to do is speak. Love speaks even when fear tries to steal your voice. Love moves forward  toward one another  when doubt, uncertainty, discomfort would remain isolated. Love sees people as human not as  agendas, problems, pawns, projects, other. Love is that thing, that mysterious, indescribable thing, which holds us together when all else seems to be crumbling apart. Love is beyond us, yet dwells within us. Love makes no sense; yet love is the only thing that makes sense  out of this everyday nonsense. Love is not for the faint of heart. Love cannot be found...  because  Love...

To know  the things you undoubtedly know . . .  To have  the courage that you possess . . .  To persist  in the face of the patriarchy . . .  To sing  a song of deliverance from the depths of oppression . . .  To speak  against the systems of injustice for all of the marginalized . . .  To nourish  the entirety of creation within your womb . . .  To magnify  the one who shares your blood as the promise for all . . .  To voice  truth to the divine presence suspended in your amniotic fluid . . .  To see  beyond the uncertainty of this moment into the certainty of a promised tomorrow living as if it is today . . .  To expect  the unexpected hope, peace, joy, and love . . .    — bshivers 

Care  must be taken Or joy       will be robbed      of transforming power. Joy is more  than a      transitory,      momentary,      circumstantial,      egoic,      fleeting, feeling      of happiness,      of contentment. Joy       lasts in spite of circumstance;      dwells beyond individualistic self-centered feelings;      cannot be possessed.  Joy is born       with a vision of abundance            where once  there was only fear of scarcity;       where more than enough bursts forth            where once there was only lack;                in waters breaking forth in the wilderness;       ...

Peace is      more than a comforting platitude. Peace is      more than a careless valediction at the close of correspondence. Peace is      more than a holiday card covered in glitter. Peace is      more than twinkling lights of red and green. Peace is      more than a well worn symbol on a threadbare tie-dyed t-shirt. Peace is      more than two fingers lifted skyward. Peace is      more than something that should be given a chance. Peace changes      everything. Peace turns      all we once thought we knew so well downside up. Peace shatters      silence brokered by the intimidating agents of violence. Peace awakens      visions of what might be in the minds of young women and young men. Peace mends      fiercely divided lives and fractured existence. Peace proclaims     ...

do not be mistaken. this waiting is not inaction; this anticipation is not wishful thinking. they are present tense living in a world preoccupied with the way it was,   the not yet, the used to be,   the maybe never. they are persistent prophetic resistance found in the song of a young mother; in the coo of a newborn babe; in the living of advent people.   -- bshivers

Hope is a strange thing. Hope in the face      of uncertainty,      of discord,      of disease,      of brokenness,      of adversity,      of wickedness,      of bad news seems irresponsible and naive. But . . . Hope sees a way      where the path appears blocked. Hope beckons us      when all else seems lost. Hope is       that which pulls us      toward possibility. Hope is foolishness      in the eyes of a pessimistic world. Hope is  the audacious persistence  of a young expectant  mother  who sings songs of deliverance in the shadow  of       occupation           and       patriarchy because of the promise held  in her womb.   O, the voice of hope It will not ...

There was so much build up; so much anticipation. We had waited so long. Our expectations were so high. But things didn't go the way we had planned. This wasn't exactly what we thought we were waiting for. This wasn't what we had hoped for. For what did all of our waiting get us? A baby. We wanted the sky to split. We wanted the earth to shake. We wanted retribution. We wanted our kind of justice; the Dirty Harry, Punisher kind of justice. We wanted freedom at the expense of the oppressors. We wanted our enemies to be dispatched. And what did our deepest desires get us? A baby. A newborn baby. Born in an out of the way town. Born to a yet to be wed couple. Born in the manner in which all babies are born. Born through water and blood. Born crying with his first breath. This is who we got; A baby. Yet, somehow we have received more than we bargained for. Babies have a way of changing everything. And this baby does just that. This birth turns ever...

Advent Week 4   This week we light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath. We light this candle in love;  Jesus is love. Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."   All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," whi...

Advent Week 3   This week we light the third candle on the Advent wreath. We light this candle in joy;  Jesus is our joy. Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,    the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,    and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord,    the majesty of our God.  Strengthen the weak hands,    and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart,    ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.    He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.    He will come and save you.’  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,    and the ears of the deaf unstop...

This Advent, I am considering what it means to be "Theotokos", the God bearer. I love the anticipation that characterizes Advent. However, it seems to me that it is not enough to passively wait for the arrival of hope, peace, joy, and love. Rather, this waiting is active. I must remember that ultimately the calling is to birth hope, peace, joy, and love into the world. That is a here and now proposition. And along the way, do I have the courage to join in singing Mary's song, the Magnificat, the Ode of the Theotokos? "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the power...