Greetings from the chilly wind tunnel we call Downtown Memphis!
Advent is here and in full swing. You don’t have to drive down Poplar Ave more than once to realize that Christmas is coming. In fact, every year the signs of Christmas appear earlier and earlier. They know that the earlier we start shopping, the more we can spend. While the Christmas season is apparent, I often wonder if most people are aware of the time many Christians call Advent. It’s easy sometimes to get stuck in my minister or Christian bubble not realize there are some things we do or celebrate most people outside the church don’t think about. I wonder if Advent is one of those things. To be honest, I have to stop and reflect each year to make sure I understand and emphasize the right things during Advent.
What is Advent? The word advent basically means “coming”. Most simply during Advent we observe and celebrate the first coming of Jesus in the Bethlehem manger as well as the promise of the second coming of Jesus to make all things right. I often make the mistake of talking about Advent as a season of waiting. I think there’s a good chance I described it as a time of waiting this last Sunday. The reality is Advent is much more a time of preparation than it is a time of waiting. It seems like a small distinction but it’s an important one.
When we are waiting for someone to arrive we orient our lives around other things to keep us busy while we wait.
When we are preparing for someone to arrive we orient our lives around the arrival and it remains our central focus and guide for our days.
When we are waiting we become increasingly frustrated and impatient.
When we are preparing we become increasingly filled with anticipation and excitement.
When we are waiting we often feel like life is put on hold until the one we wait for arrives.
When we are preparing we realize everyday has purpose and is defined around the one arriving.
When we are waiting, the people around us walk right by wondering why we sit and wait.
When we are preparing, others see in us a passion that is attractive and inviting for others to join our preparation.
As we find ourselves at a time in history between the first Advent of Jesus 2000 years ago and the second Advent of Jesus at a time none of us know. Take some time and consider wether you are actively preparing and orienting your life around the coming of Jesus or if you’re merely waiting around. How we prepare is another article or sermon for another day but put simply we are to prepare by proclaiming the Good News of the arrival of our king to all who would hear carrying out the mission Jesus started in the lives of his disciples.