Advent came to life for me when my
kids were small. As a child, we were the kids that lit the candles at church in
the advent wreath. There were four of us. Four girls, four candles, it fit.
But, not growing up in a liturgical church, advent was a bit lost on me until
the year the magic was gone.
Christmas had always been so magical. The anticipation, the wonder, the
hope, the celebration. Gifts, food, family, friends. As a child, Christmas was
my favorite time of year. And my parents, by God’s grace and mercy, had done a
good job of focusing on Christ at Christmas. I became an adult, and I knew what
was under the tree, for everyone. I
burned the Advent candle at both ends between cookies, parties, church skits,
crafts for the kids, a solo in the Christmas Eve service, shopping, baking, and
on and on. I woke up one year and realized, “I missed Christmas.” Oh, it
happened. But I missed it all the same. It was a blur and then it was over. My
heart never really celebrated. My soul never really engaged wonder and hope. The
sparkle was all but gone. My hands had been a part of Christmas, but the rest
of me? I purposed that year to never miss Christmas again. I wanted something
that would thrill my heart and bring a sense of wonder once again, and I found
that in celebrating or observing Advent.
Advent is an old church tradition starting four Sundays before
Christmas and ending on Christmas Day. Advent uses scripture and usually a
weekly theme that focuses our hearts back on Christ. The wonder in my heart
could only be met by the greatest gift I ever received, the gift of Christ and
salvation in Him. Every year, the practice of Advent brings me back to that
place of worship and reveling in Him! I look forward to it so much every
year!
The first year I did it, Christmas Day came as a surprise to me. I had
not paid attention to our Advent guide and the scripture tied to that day. I
think I assumed it would be one from the birth narratives in Matthew or Luke.
But, my heart was stunned when we opened the last scripture and I read these
words,
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and
take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You
know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said
to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the
way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.” – Jn. 14:1-6
My soul.
This whole Advent thing was not necessarily a looking back with reverence, awe,
and love. It was looking forward. Advent or, coming, is certainly about
celebrating that He came. But Advent and Christmas Day are really about the
fact that He is coming! What wonder! What awe! He will come back just as sure
as He came. And He will come for me.
Just like He did so long ago.
This time,
the Advent will be different. He will come to take me to be where He is, not to
come dwell where we are. It will be a final Advent. I will get to go be with
Him and the Father because He came that first Christmas to be the Way, the
Truth, and the Life.
We still use
most of the same scriptures for Advent that we've used in the past. And every
Christmas morning my heart thrills at the prospect of opening, reading and
meditating on John 14:1-6. I know it will be there, just like as a child I knew
the stockings would be stuffed with Lifesavers and oranges and our “Santa” gift
would be in front of the tree. But the magic never fades. His coming shines
with such radiance, hope, and immense joy that Christmas holds fresh promise
for me. For us. Maybe this year will be the year. As the church for centuries
has said, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”
Just another seed of my faith,
Ginny
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