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Spiritual Preparedness: The Role of John the Baptist

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Welcome back, beloveds, to our second week of this Advent study we’re doing this year! We’re going to look at “preparedness” this week… I suppose an Advent study is entirely about preparing, but this week is specifically about John the Baptist and his role in Jesus’ birth.

We’ve chatted about preparing numerous times here at mittonmusings.com, and I’m not ashamed to say it popped up again this week. We’ve had our first dumping of snow… and I am unprepared. School buses were cancelled again, and the pallets are still sitting on the driveway. I knew winter was coming, but somehow I was stuck in falling leaves and an extended fall season. I’m sure it is too early for a full few weeks of snow, so I am trying to ignore it. Nonetheless, I headed off to do morning chores including the dumping of ice and refreshing water with my trusty butter knife to hack away at the ice… but in Crocs and a sweater because I have no idea where my winter coat is.

We’ve had to go searching for shovels in the barn and the fretting for my bunnies has begun. It was literally only -4 degrees Celsius, but I worry they get cold. My new chick birds are unprepared for all this white stuff… and I am not sure they know they can go back in to the coop. So far, they seem all huddled in the corner (outside). I must show them the way — again!

My “bunny basket” now includes an “ice hacker” knife…

In addition to being physically prepared for things, I like to be prepared in other ways. The hubby and I were having a financial discussion the other day (as one does in marriage) and he asked me what I’d like to do with a little surplus cash flow we had. He did not like my answer. If (and when) we get goats in the spring, we need a new fence and a little shelter for them (so I don’t worry about them in the winter…) and so I need to save up for said fence. I’m also reading and talking to people who have goats… which all say they are fun — but escape… hence fence discussions. My mother thinks I’m crazy. The hubby thinks, well, never mind what he thinks. I’m mentally preparing for goats.

Preparation. It’s important. My winter tires were on early this year… which allowed me to get groceries in the middle of our first snow. We’re gonna need a fence for escape artist goats. Fresh water is important. Luke 1 gives us the preparation story of John the Baptist’s birth announcement. It outlines the other special delivery sent to Elizabeth and Zachariah. And although they were righteous and believers… real life had them doubting. Can you imagine meeting an angel from Heaven who tells you you’re gonna have a baby in the middle of the most important day of your career as priest in the temple? Poor Zachariah was already under pressure… no wonder he was dumbstruck. A little un-prepared, I’d say, for such an encounter.

Yet, this was a significant birth announcement. John had a very important role to play. He was set apart for special service from the very beginning. He was the forerunner to prepare for the coming Christ. He served a very unique role with major distinctions that set him apart. Like us, we should stand out as ones who are “pointers” to the second coming. Ones who prepare the way. Part of that, for me, is this little blog I do each week. It’s my way of highlighting my spiritual journey to (hopefully) walk along side of ya’ll in yours!

Photo by Vladimir Srajber on Pexels.com

And I don’t know if this “lesson” has had any coherent points. I’m feeling like it’s a little all over the place. So, let’s draw some conclusions. Advent reminds us to look forward, not only to Christmas time, but to the second coming of Christ, by looking backward to the Birth of Jesus. We have done that this week by looking at John the Baptist, his special birth announcement, and his role in “pointing the way” for Jesus and His ministry. We are instructed to do the same. Like getting new pets in spring, or winter’s arrival, we all must be prepared for what is to come. And that means, studying and sharing with others. That studying may mean sacrifice, repenting, preparation or a host of other things as we fulfill our role in God’s plan for us. Are you prepared? Are you preparing? Hopefully, this little advent focus has reminded you to get on that track once again. Me? I’m off to hack at some ice. Blessings!

The Next Step

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Do you have a fitbit? One of those little devices that count how many steps you’ve taken and what you need to make your optimal steps for the day? Or how much you’ve slept and ate and who you should marry? I don’t have one. We did have a “pre-fitbit” step counter once… I think we got it out of a cereal box. You clipped it to your pant leg and you could trick it into adding steps by swinging your leg or frantically waving your arms. It obviously didn’t fulfill its purpose very well.

Funny how we focus on “steps”. Moving forward, moving back, constantly checking where you are and where you should be going. Now, I am a girl who likes to plan. I like to check off my steps and put the x in the boxes. I follow the list and love instructions with bullet points and numbers. I follow the steps. But what if you come to the fork in the road? The edge of the cliff, and you are unsure of your next step? What happens then?

Perhaps it is a big decision. Perhaps a life goal. Perhaps a next stage in life. How do you feel when you are tip-toe with that edge and your next step will determine whether you soar or fall off the cliff? What happens then? The fitbit doesn’t tell you what to do with your steps, it just shows you how many you have taken. You have to set the goal.

We studied John the Baptist at church this week, and I couldn’t help but compare his ministry to a few people I follow on social media. There were “big announcements” posted and “new projects” to be taken on, and I noticed that life seems to be timeless when it comes to the edge-of-the-cliff decisions. Everyone eventually comes to that point where you have to take the next step. Sometimes you celebrate it, sometimes you mourn it, and sometimes it just quietly moves forward.

If you are diligent, you make informed decisions… you pray, study, ask the experts, debate, consult, read… and then? John chose to end his career of “preparing the way” because the Messiah had showed up! He worked himself out of his job. Some people set the stage ahead of time and contract themselves into a plan or timeframe. Then the time ends and you stop. Some of you are vision castors — entrepreneurial types who love the prospect of something new — and your life just becomes an ebb and flow of projects and plans. Some of us peddle backwards, afraid of the unknown and where the path may lead.

I’m learning to be patient. To plant my steps purposefully. But the journey is hard and the path rocky. My footing is not always secure and I seek answers. What now? Which way? Should I wait here while others catch up, or plunge ahead and take the risk of not knowing the path? A wise person once told me: Just take the next step.