“I’m ready for Advent,” I told my husband over a week ago.
I didn’t mean I’m ready for Christmas – not yet. I love the Christmas season, from the music to the decorations to the cozy, twinkly evenings in and the anticipation of time with my family. But over the last few years, I’ve also grown to love November, this glorious last gasp of fall before winter sets in. I relish the golden leaves, the achingly blue skies, the slow turning of the year from light to dark (while waiting eagerly for it to turn back again).
However, Advent – that time of waiting with deep longing and anticipation for the birth of Christ – could not be more welcome this year.
The news has been bad for several months now. I suppose the news is always bad, particularly if you go looking for things to worry over. There are always wars and rumors of wars, political unrest in our own country and elsewhere, poverty, famine, natural disasters.
But between the tragedy in Ferguson, the Ebola epidemic, ongoing crises in Syria and Ukraine and elsewhere, and many smaller struggles in my own life and the lives of people I know, it’s been a tough few months. We are – I am – in desperate need of some good news. And this is where Advent comes in.
Every year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we wait for the ultimate good news: the birth of the baby whose life, death and resurrection would divide history into two parts – before and after. The words of the angel still make me well up, even though I’ve heard them a thousand times: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
This is good news of the very best kind: God coming down from heaven, touching earth, making his home among us.
But we have to wait, as the Israelites waited thousands of years for the birth of their Messiah. Every year, we have to wait again. And I’m already impatient to begin that waiting.
I’ll be waiting with the help of some familiar rituals: the singing of “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” the tree-trimming and gift-buying, the reading of a few beloved books. But first I have to wait for Advent to begin. And in that waiting, there is a deep and radiant joy – because I am waiting for what I know is good news.
Advent starts on Nov. 30 this year. I invite you to wait with me.
cakes, tea and dreams 
It is lovely and refreshing to read your thoughts on Advent, the time of preparation when we anticipate the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord. Especially in these days of “bad news” it is good to quiet our hearts and turn more often to giving and caring for those around us and to prayerfully anticipating rather than anxiously being busy. Thank you for the reminder. In the Orthodox Christian Church our Advent, or Nativity Fast started this Sunday, the 15th. I, like you, look forward to this blessed time. May your time of preparation be peaceful and joyous.
This guy says it better than I can.
http://blogs.ancientfaith.com/onbehalfofall/why-we-fast-before-christmas/
I love Advent too. Do you know the book Watch for the Light, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer? It’s a collection of readings for Advent and Christmas and I love it. xox
Thank you so much for this post, you put it better than I would have been able to say. Advent is one of my favorite things, even in wonderful years, because it is a very special, very specific type of anticipation.
I’ll be there with you!
Beautifully written.
Lovely post Katie. In these times where the news seems so grim and worries are always at the forefront, it’s so important to focus on the waiting, not with a false hope but with the full confidence that the promised Savior has come. Thank you for the reminder!
Lovely words. I, too, am ready for Advent. I love how it’s both a season of peace and stillness and waiting, but also alive with activity (holiday preparations!). I’ve been thinking more and more of my Advent practices this year and I think we’re going to use this time to consider changing churches, and also try to light an Advent wreath at home for the first time. One of our traditions, which I think E is finally old enough to really enjoy, is reading “A Christmas Mystery” together every night. I can’t wait to start reading it to her.
Just found this post, but it is beautiful! Love the reminder that we are in this world, but not of this world. We know the good news that helps us get through all the good times. Thank you!