Because: To Be and Do

Show Notes

In this thoughtful Advent episode, host Philip Amerson invites listeners to pause and reflect on the depth of the season through the wisdom of theologian and poet Howard Thurman. Sharing both the inspiration and the resonance of Thurman's poem "Christmas is Waiting to be Born," Philip Amerson weaves together history, personal story, and a call to inward transformation at the holidays. This episode is a gentle, stirring reminder that the truest meaning of Christmas is not just in festivities, but in a renewal that starts within us and echoes through our world.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Howard Thurman’s Wisdom Remains Profoundly Relevant
2. Philip Amerson brings Thurman’s legacy to the forefront, specifically his classic book Jesus and the Disinherited and the oft-quoted challenge to “ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” The episode underscores how Thurman’s voice is still a needed guide for navigating modern struggles, injustice, and hope.
3. "Christmas is Waiting to Be Born" in Us All
4. The heart of this episode is a moving reading of Thurman’s 1985 poem, "Christmas is Waiting to be Born." Lines about refugees seeking deliverance, aging before one’s time, and fear accompanying daily life, fit today’s realities as much as they did decades ago. Philip Amerson encourages listeners to let the poem’s message take root: the birth of Christmas—the arrival of hope, peace, and love—happens within us, not just as a historical event, but as a present, personal transformation.
5. Advent is a Time for Inner Renewal and Action
6. Philip Amerson gently reminds us that Advent is not just about anticipating an external celebration, but about becoming active agents for new life and compassion every day. Recalling memories of Thurman’s slow, resonant teaching, and linking the poem to the struggles of today—refugees, children left behind, seniors facing hardship—he calls each listener to carry the spirit of Christmas forward: “in you, in me, and in all humankind.” This is both comforting and challenging, urging us to seek both inward renewal and outward action as the holiday approaches.

Whether you're wrestling with Advent’s meaning or seeking encouragement in difficult times, this episode is an invitation to pause, receive, and let the work of hope begin again—right where you are.