Advent, Day 7

What is Advent?

I have to admit, when growing up, I thought an Advent Calendar was simply used to count down the days until Christmas. Our family usually shared one advent calendar that hung up on the refrigerator and we took turns opening a window. In my head now, I can visualize those lovely advent calendars with their Christian scene - perhaps of the baby Jesus in a cradle, or perhaps of the three wise men in their long robes with staffs in their hands and gazing upon a huge star in the sky. The colors were usually beautiful and the calendar would have sparkly glitter sprinkled over it. If we held the calendar up to the light, the little windows when opened looked like stained glass, or so I thought anyways!

My parents were raised Catholic, but we were not, so I'm not sure when I started to wonder about the religious significance of the pictures on the Advent calendars.

Over the past week or so, I've been looking for little tidbits to put out here on this blog for fun and for my own edification, and I've read a little bit about Advent and its meaning. And though I skimmed the words many times, I have to say that its significance escaped me until a few minutes ago. According to wikipedia, "the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Jesus the Christ."

Well, first of all, now I am wondering how the Hebrews "waited" for the birth of their Messiah. What did they do to prepare? Or did they just go about their daily lives in their waiting period? I certainly can't recall anything specific right now from my own readings, but I'll be looking this up tomorrow.

And then, I think, how am I supposed to wait for Christ's second coming? What should I be doing to prepare as I journey through this life, travelling on various roads, towards Him?

I remember when I was preparing to move to Edmonton. Ah, I was so very excited. I wanted to make sure I was as unencumbered and as free as possible, as I understood that God can use those who are free to focus on Him to a great extent. So, I payed my bills. I got rid of alot of stuff I did not need, though I kept some stuff in storage. I got my documents in order. I said my goodbyes to my family and friends. I prayed constantly to make sure I was doing the right thing. I got the car fixed up and packed it just with bare necessities really. I made the rounds to favorite restaurants and shops for a "last taste" of the Detroit area. I lived for a few weeks with my folks as I waited to depart. Though some of these tasks were not fun for me, I did them all with a great joy and anticipation of what I knew was going to be a great adventure.

And as I am here in the midst of Advent, I wonder if I am living and taking care of business with that same joy and anticipation as I had for beginning a new life here. Are there debts I need to pay? Do I have things in storage that need to be dealt with (i.e., baggage in my life)? Have I given my family and friends up to God or do I try and solve their life issues for them? Am I in prayer as much as I should be - am I still asking God's direction? Am I travelling with just what I need, or is stuff cluttering up my life? Am I a living here for today - getting out into the world around me, experiencing it, and sharing with others? Who am I hanging out with while I wait for Christ's return?

In thinking about these questions, I am grateful for this time of reflection, a time many have named Advent.