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Saturday, December 03, 2011
Lost and Found
I lost my wedding ring this morning. Every so often throughout the day, I find I'm unconsciously rubbing my ring finder with my thumb, only to rediscover that -- there's no ring there!
I wonder, how many times every ordinary day do I perform that little rubbing ritual? And each time, all unawares, I receive subliminal satisfaction that, yes, I am still married. The ring silently reminds me of the long-ago summer day my bride placed it on my hand, visibly sealing the fact that we were now husband and wife.
Even if I never get that ring back, I still will be a very married man. And my thumb will still remind me of that fact, softly brushing the naked finger that wore the ring for almost fifty years.
Could this be a kind of parable for Advent and Christmas?
The Bible's overarching story of creation, fall, and redemption begins with God and humankind in a relationship much like marriage -- mutual love and trust shared freely between God and the Image of God (Genesis 1 and 2). Unfortunately, that beautiful harmony is destroyed when arrogance and distrust lead Adam and Eve to violate God's trust (Genesis 3). Human history recapitulates that original tragedy in a thousand different ways.
The four weeks of Advent, leading us slowly towards Christmas, invite us to relive the world's long, dark, cold wait for God to step into our history and restore our original blessing. Let me add to Advent's familiar symbolism -- of evergreen wreaths, purple candles, gradually increasing light -- the image of a hand that wears no ring.
Every so often, each of us absently rubs our thumb against our ring finger, feeling for a palpable sign that we are known and loved by God. As with my hand today, the wedding ring's absence from its rightful place only enhances its powerful message of marriage.
And then comes Christmas. The day when God does exactly step into human history, and does indeed restore our original blessing. Jesus' life, from cradle to cross to empty crypt, palpably seals God's solemn pledge to love us with an everlasting love. The ring at last is back on our hand where it has always belonged!
(By the way, I found my ring by retracing my morning steps. It has never looked or felt more beautiful than tonight.)
posted by Jack Buckley at
2:38 PM
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