God’s presence includes all

Stories | November 28, 2025 | Author: Stevie Wills

Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation in the lead up to Christmas day, when we celebrate the coming of God’s presence in the birth of Jesus Christ. On this first week of Advent, CBM Australia invites you to journey with us as we reflect on the theme, ‘Prepare the Way’ .

The words from Isaiah 40 came to the Israelites when they were in exile in Babylon. The presence and the glory of God had once dwelled with them in the temple. But it departed from them long before. God’s presence was out of reach. Unattainable.

To these people, a call to prepare the way was a source of hope, reassured by the promise that God’s presence would return. A highway was spoken of. That anything in the way of His presence returning would be removed. Valleys would be filled, mountains levelled and rugged areas smoothed.

God would return to His people and dwell amongst them. This is a deeply relational God. He Himself is relationship. He is Father, Son and Spirit. He beckons all people into community with Him. He calls all people into relationship with Him  and therefore relationship with one another.

To prepare the way for the coming of the presence of God, we are called to enter into community with one another. And to ensure that all people are able to join into that community.

At CBM Australia, we know that people with disabilities often find themselves marginalised and on the edges of community. They face barriers to being fully integrated into community. To prepare for the coming of the presence of God in its fullness requires us to remove those barriers.

This is not an optional extra. The fullness of the presence of God calls all people into community with him and with one another.

The importance of access

To celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities on Wednesday, December 3rd, I wrote a poem. I’m Stevie Wills, associate of CBM Australia. I called this poem ‘Access.’

In it, I explored the essentiality of building access for people with disabilities and the contrasting perception that it’s an optional extra.

Celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities with us by watching and sharing this poem.