Gelassenheit

No, that's not Gesundheit (God bless you). The word for Advent is Gelassenheit -- which means "shedding" or "letting go."

Meister Eckhart was a theologian and mystic in 14th century Germany, who developed the term Gelassenheit. In this season of the year, when many people are focused on acquiring more -- gifts, cookies, egg nog and ugly holiday sweaters -- Christians are instead invited to shed.

Shedding in the spiritual sense refers to more than just giving up stuff. It also means letting go of anxieties, ceasing to cling to what we want, and ceasing to insist on our own way. Gelassenheit means letting go of our focus on results. It means relaxing into what is already true. We work, but it is actually God who makes things happen.

Holly Whitcomb is a spiritual director in Wisconsin. When one of her directees is doubting God's involvement in their life, Holly asks them to go home and find a container. It could be a Mason jar or a bowl or a box. That container then becomes God's In-Box. When a person feels concerned or worried, she asks them to write down their concern and drop it in God's In Box.

This becomes a visual symbol of God's care and keeping. We remember that we are not alone, that God is in control. God is at work and will be at work in our lives, and God takes our worries seriously.

You can read more about Holly Whitcomb in her book "The Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting." There is a copy in the church library.

In the meantime, I'll close with another quotation from Meister Eckhart: "If the only prayer you ever say is THANK YOU, that will be enough."

Gelassenheit!