El Día de San Valentín está a la vuelta de la esquina.
Las tiendas están a reventar con ositos de peluche, corazones de chocolate enormes y tarjetas de amor. No pude evitar pensar en el movimiento #metoo al andar por el pasillo adornado de colores rosa y rojo del Día de San Valentín en Walgreen’s. Las mujeres (y hombres) que han sufrido trauma y abuso han alzado valientemente su voz para compartir sus historias.
Al igual que en la Navidad, el Día de San Valentín puede provocar sentimientos y recuerdos dolorosos para aquellos que han sido víctimas de abuso o han perdido a un ser querido.
Advent is upon us. Candles burn in Sunday services, Christmas tree lights twinkle, and even a chilly breeze settles in my corner of Texas. Advent is a time set aside to remember and expect our King as He enters into human suffering. The season exemplifies joy and waiting as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. And yet, the excitement of Advent seems like a stark contrast in light of so much pain and darkness in our present society. Everything in our culture seems to breathe a wearied and weathered sigh. The news continues to portray stories of suffering and conflict, such as sexual harassments, shootings, and uncertainty for DACA recipients and refugees. We mourn the pain of the world and in the same breath we rejoice for the hope the Lord gives. During these few weeks leading up to Christmas, Christians have the opportunity to understand the magnitude of who our King is and worship Him with our whole hearts. He is the God who came into humanity and experienced suffering in order to bring freedom. Jesus is the ultimate bridge builder between God and humanity.