Advent

 

The word Advent means to "await the arrival of something important".
I have to say, I have had my share of advent moments: waiting for a letter or a package to arrive; anticipation of an impending vacation; the birth of three sons.

Obviously, some of those moments have more weight and importance than others, but all of them bring the feeling of excitement, mixed with mystery.

But as for the season of Advent in the life of this community we call the church, it seems we have lost that anticipation.

Maybe it's because we have "been here and done this" before. Trimmed the tree, shopped for gifts, wrapped the presents, prepared and eaten our favorite foods, etc., etc., etc.

Not that those things fail to bring a sense of joy or excitement, but perhaps their familiarity, as the old saying says, brings with them a sense of contempt.

The excitement and mystery has faded.

So, if our familiarity of the events we celebrate at Advent have robbed us of our anticipation, what does Advent become for us?

For me, I refer back to a Puritan Prayer (see below) that re-orients me to the reality of the incarnation of Jesus (God in the flesh) and what that really means for me/us.

When we remember what the season really represents for us, the excitement and mystery return.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorned crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
expired that I might for ever live.

-A Puritan Prayer in the Valley of Visio

Knowing the lengths to which God has gone to secure my redemption renews in me an attitude of thankfulness and anticipation - for what God has already done and what He is still doing, in me.

Knowing that Jesus in the flesh has ushered in my salvation -  what could be more important?

 

Thankful

Is it just me, or have you noticed it as well? The stores that we frequent were recently filled with candy for Halloween and almost before the night was over, the shelves were filled with Christmas decorations.

Did I miss something? Isn't there a holiday between Halloween and Christmas?

It makes me wonder. Is this an indicator of the lives we live?

I find it more than ironic that we seem to move from one holiday that is all about getting as much candy as we can, to another holiday that seems to have transformed into a day focused on getting as many gifts as we can.

What happened to Thanksgiving?

And I am not just talking about the holiday, which could easily be seen as yet another day, all about me - filling up on sweet potatoes and pecan pie. (Those are for me, by the way, so stay out of them - just kidding!)

I'm talking about taking the time to be thankful, or having an "attitude of gratitude" as the rule, not the exception.

Honestly, we don't need a day to be thankful, though being intentional helps, but it is usually only when we take the time to reflect on all we have - all that God has blessed us with - that we begin to be thankful.

What we really need is perspective.

Seeing life as more than just sweets and treats - the constant pursuit of things that momentarily take away our loneliness, or our self-doubt, or our worry and grief.

Life is, and can be, so much more.

Jesus says so clearly for us what our perspective should be in Matthew 6 -

 ⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

When we realize that God provides for us, then what we have is not what makes us happy.

That we have what we have - that is the reason to be thankful.

Thankful - not so much for what I have, but for a heavenly Father who already knows and meets my needs.

That is a reason to be thankful, and a reason to take the time to be thankful.

Now, could someone pass the sweet potatoes?