Advent

In recent years I have discovered the value of celebrating Advent. Without special meditations and a deliberate effort to stop in the midst of the season, Christmas comes in a flurry and leaves in a flurry even over here. And via the Internet it is even possible to feel your rushing in the west from all the way over here!

There is something precious about preparing our hearts and minds for this time of year that adds so much depth to Christmas. Our pastor has been sending us daily advent meditations and I am passing this one along to you.

Because it is counter-cultural to celebrate advent/Christmas here, I added a few verses (in italics) at the end.

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Advent is one of the most counter-cultural things we can do.

While the culture says, “Get busy, hurry,”
Advent says “Wait, be still.”

The culture says, “Buy things. Eat. Drink. Indulge yourselves and each other.”
Advent says, “Take the time to experience and understand your deep longings and let them take you to a deeper understanding of yourself and ultimately to God where you can be truly satisfied.”

The culture says, “Don’t think too much about the cost or the need. You’ll work it out somehow later.”
Advent says, “Prepare yourself. Understand who you are in relationship to God’s coming into the world.”

The culture says, “You know enough about everything. You already understand. You don’t need to listen.”
Advent says, “Honor what you have learned, but know the peace of realizing there are understandings beyond your own knowledge and mysteries you approach but cannot fully comprehend.”

The culture says, “Defend yourself. Justify yourself and your position.”
Advent says, “It is good news to admit the places and ways you have fallen short and to let them go. This will make space for love to be born in you once again.”

The culture says, “Peace comes when we know we are safe.When we have more power than those who are different or might threaten us.”
Advent says, “Peace comes when we are open to our commonality as God’s children and when we let love give us freedom from our fear.”

The culture says, “Faith is knowing what is right and sharing faith is convincing others of our rightness.”
Advent says, “God is being born in us. How does God in you want to live and shine in the world and in relationship to others?”

This culture says, "Don't celebrate advent - no one else is"
Advent says, "God came to all cultures."

This culture says, "Hide your faith and don't mention it to us."
Advent says, "Spread joy and peace in gentle ways."

This culture says, "God is distant and unloving."
Advent says, "God is with us."

I can think of nothing more counter cultural transcending the four weeks before Christmas observing Advent. Come Lord Jesus. Come in me. Come in us.

Tere Canzoneri