Sign, sign, every where a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign…
That comes from an old rock and roll song by Tesla from 1970 about how we clutter the world with signs, most of which are worthless and mean.
Most signs are about telling us what to do or not to do, warning signs, directing our actions and attentions for us, buy this, do this, don’t do this, stay out, go this speed, don’t go that way, no admittance.
There are so many I can’t read them all, they become a blur.
Every once in a while though, we see signs of welcome, everybody welcome, come on in.
Those are the good signs.
Looking for signs of welcome in the middle of a cluttered, confused and roaring landscape.
This is what Jesus asks of us.
Look for signs of welcome, stand up, raise your heads when all is falling apart, this is when we are given a glimpse of God’s glory.
A different kind of sign in our cluttered landscape, a sign of welcome.
The Christian year begins today. New Years Day.
Happy New Year!
We begin with a vision of the world falling apart and going crazy and in the midst of it all we are to hold our head high to see the return of Jesus to a our cluttered and distracted lives.
A vision of glory and light and redemption in the midst of trauma.
This is how Christians mark the beginning of the year with the glimpse of the ultimate goal and fulfillment of time itself, signs of welcome shining out in the broken scenery.
The Advent season is about looking forward to the Advent of Christ, the arrival of the holy one, who judges and heals and restores.
We look for Jesus in the signs of welcome.
Be alert, be on guard, don’t miss it.
How do we grow our attention? How do we grow our eyes to see the holy and the glory in the midst of trauma?
It takes courage, it takes willingness.
This new year may our eyes be brave and willful.
The Lord is extravagant and constant.
Wherever our eyes turn the world can shine, the world is transfigured, the signs of welcome are there.
Can our eyes bear it?
Will we have the courage to see?
Because to see is to be filled with that light and to become a sign.
Will we be the sign of welcome?
A good sign.