But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
~ Psalm 31:14
Each and every day … each and every breath … every moment involves beginnings and endings. We all know that we are not guaranteed the next day or the next breath. That notion, if one dwells on it too long, can become very frightening and anxiety-producing. Somehow, even with this knowledge, we manage to live, be productive, and find joy. These beginnings and endings are minute and we are often not even aware of them. Most of us would probably not say that we watch and wait for each breath or each moment of our day. But there are larger beginning and endings that we do watch and wait for.
Some of you know that December is my wife, Vicki’s, birthday month. She starts at least some celebrating in November. She’s not shy or apologetic … it’s her birthday, and, come what may, she’s going to enjoy it and celebrate it. A birthday is an ending of one year and a beginning of another. For Vicki, this is a good thing. She watches and waits for her birthday with eager anticipation!
Most of us aren’t very good about watching and waiting. I often surprise myself at how annoyed I can become just waiting in line at the grocery store. Watching someone file through a multitude of coupons and waiting for my turn is not joyful. In fact, it is the opposite of eager anticipation.
Throughout December, we are in the season of Advent. It is a time of endings and beginnings as we end one church year and begin a new one. It is a time when the message is loud and clear … watch and wait.
What kind of watching and waiting will Advent be for you and your family? Is it the watching and waiting for gifts under the tree? Is it the watching and waiting for decorations and parties? There’s nothing wrong with these things, but are they the most important things? Are they the “reason for the season?” The beginning of Advent each year is a good time to remember that we have a choice about how we will do Advent. It allows us to put our lives and what we are watching and waiting for into perspective. Some of you do Advent calendars or Jesse trees. These can help keep a focus on Jesus as we watch and wait for Him.
We also have a choice about whether will we be passive and simply let Advent happen to us, or be active and engage Advent. Actively engaging Advent can involve actively watching for the hand of God around you, talking with others about where they see God, and actively waiting and expecting God to show up.
Increasingly, the season of Advent and Christmas is commercialized and secularized. One way we proclaim the message of Christ is to actively engage Advent and actively watch and to wait for the Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 