A crowd enjoys last week's "Show in the Snow" talent show at Room In The Inn

December 14  |  The Third Sunday of Advent

"Be joyful, though you have considered all of the facts."

-Wendell Berry

The Third Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on joy. In Nashville this year, that day of joy arrives as the wind chill is expected to hit 0°F. For many in our community, this kind of cold means real and immediate danger. It raises an honest question: where is joy in a time like this?

We could easily look around and ask what is joyful about Room In The Inn. There is hardship here, and struggle. There are stories of loss, loneliness, and pain—too many to count. And yet, in the midst of it all, there is also the quiet joy of human connection. The warmth of a shared meal. The laughter around a table. The simple grace of being welcomed and known by name.

Joy is not the denial of suffering; it is the recognition that love is still possible in the face of it. By offering kindness, by receiving one another as guests and hosts, we affirm that truth.

May this joy — grounded in compassion, honesty, and hope — go with you even on the coldest, darkest of nights.

Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
          “Be strong, do not fear!
     Here is your God.
          He will come with vengeance,
     with terrible recompense.
          He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
          and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
          and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
(Isaiah 35:4-6)

Rub your hands together slowly and notice the warmth that begins to grow. As you do, think of one way warmth will be shared today—through shelter, food, presence, or care. Pause and give thanks for that warmth and for all the Room In The Inn volunteers and other shelter providers who are working to protect life when the cold is dangerous and the nights are long. Let this small warmth remind you that love, too, is something we pass from hand to hand.

Rub your hands together slowly and notice the warmth that begins to grow. As you do, think of one way warmth will be shared today—through shelter, food, presence, or care. Pause and give thanks for that warmth and for all the Room In The Inn volunteers and other shelter providers who are working to protect life when the cold is dangerous and the nights are long. Let this small warmth remind you that love, too, is something we pass from hand to hand.