And so it begins… a season of waiting

And so it begins…

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving has become a starting gun, like the beginning of a race. On your mark…get set…g…

No, Wait!

We’re trying to live slowly, remember? And the “most wonderful time of the year” has another name: Advent. Which means: expectant waiting.

Waiting? Waiting for what?

The kids can’t wait to see Santa, then they can’t wait for Santa to arrive with gifts. And speaking of gifts, there’s waiting in line to check out with my purchases, did you SEE those Black Friday lines? Who has time for waiting? Let’s try Amazon and then we can get stuff done while we wait for our packages to be delivered.

Waiting. Who has time to wait? Waiting requires patience. Ha! Need to order me some of that on Amazon. Except, they don’t stock patience at Amazon. No, can’t buy that.

Do any of your holiday plans include expectant waiting? Have you set aside time for quiet reflection on that incredible happening over 2000 years ago? When the creator of all the universe became one of the created? God became the most vulnerable- a small child.

And he took the time to live here. He grew up, one day at time. He waited 30 years or so to begin his mission. He waited three decades before he began what he came to do. Jesus waited 30 years? I don’t want to wait 30 minutes.

Waiting requires patience and patience requires trust. Jesus could wait. He could just live and enjoy the scenery for over 30 years, before getting to the task for which he was sent. He trusted God and God’s timing. And God’s timing included a LOT of waiting, even before Jesus got here.

So, this year, can you wait? Can you move slowly? Live slowly? Will you build in time for quiet and reflection? Time to hear God through his word? Time to talk with God? Not on the run, but maybe sitting quietly by a fire, or tree lights. Maybe some soft music on…

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior was born on Christmas day
To save us all from satan’s power when we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Matthew 1 and 2

by Robin Schmidt