The season of Advent begins on Sunday 3rd. I know Advent calendars have gazumped things a bit and see it as all the December days before Christmas, but the faith community is slightly different.
Advent is a time of waiting. We wait for Christmas, yes, but we remember the deeper groaning and longing for all manner of things to be well that has another perspective.
Advent is a time of hoping. As long as we have breath left in us there is hope. And it is not blind optimism but sure and certain. Maybe bling optimism is a more appropriate description of what the world is up to.
Advent is a time of resting. We have to do a deal with the devil to tell the Christmas story before Christmas, largely because nobody is listening during the actual season of Christmas. But technically in Advent we wait, hope and rest:
They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength...
They that hope upon the Lord will renew their strength...
They that rest upon the Lord will renew their strength...
...all equally good translations.
Meanwhile time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future.
Since the present, the future and the days of Advent are about counting I will be posting a slightly alternative advent spiritual exercise each day from Sunday as we take a chance to consider the numbers that make up our lives. Join me if you wish.
Day one - three conversations.
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