Advent

I’ve been really sick lately. Just a seasonal cold, but it has knocked me out. So I don’t know if I my words come across.

But I know that there are so many that are suffering this advent. I wish I had paid more attention to advent when I was Reformed. It is a beautiful reminder to all who are hurting, lonely, hopeless – that God sees and knows and is coming to save.

Advent is hurting, and longing. Advent is wondering and waiting. Advent is screaming and crying and wondering when the pain will stop.

Advent is locked in, lonely, outcast, wandering – longing for home.

Advent is labor pains but not yet knowing the birth.

Advent is expectation – but not like a child excited for Christmas. It doesn’t always look like that. It is expectation that looks like hopelessness.

Like a dark night, like a barren field, like desert, like a wilderness – like stuck in an upper room with a ton of strangers about to give birth and having to sneak down to where the host keeps the animals to have some privacy.

It is asking “What is God doing? Does he care? Does he see? Does he know?”

And then the dawn breaks. Then the trumpet sounds. Then the angel choirs sing.

The first advent was in the dark. Announced to the shepherds and the foreigners and the outcasts. It was the first advent. It isn’t yet complete.

The next is coming. Advent reminds us of the next. Stay awake. Open wide your doors. Open your wallets.

Give to those who have none. Love those who don’t know what that is. Be present for those who have never had anyone present or anyone who cared.

Be the ear for those whose voices scream out unheard.

Be the eye for those who go unseen.

Shine the light of Jesus in the dark while we all wait for home.

The groom is coming. He is coming. Wait. The consummation is at hand.