Ambushed!
December 9, 2011
December sneaks up on me, I admit. I savor the vivid autumn colors of October and November, sniffing appreciatively the crisp fall air, scented with wood fires and red leaves. Thanksgiving pumpkins and pies have barely faded for me when Christmas hits. Suddenly all the stores and radios are counting down the days until Christmas, decorative lights and wreaths spring up overnight in my neighborhood, and my firm intentions to stay calm for the Christmas season are in jeopardy.
My family intentionally chooses to slow down over the month of December, saying no to as many second-best things as we can. I relieve some of the school burden, and we attempt to slow down on some days to savor getting a tree, to relax around the Christmas lights, and to recount the Story to each other.
This year, I was hit by how much of the Christmas story is really about waiting.
Young pregnant Mary hears the news that she is pregnant with the God-Man. She waits and grows rounder, wondering, imagining, and breaking out into amazing Scripture-filled prayer songs. Nine months pass. Waiting…
Gentle Joseph receives the news that will look to the world like shame, disgrace, and betrayal. His engaged girl is pregnant. He waits, endures the scorn, waits for what may never be fully explained to the watching public, and chooses to believe in the unseen, to trust the angel messenger. Waiting…
The wise star-followers from the east, in their day to day science, uncover wild and strange constellations, uncharted celestial orbits. They calculate, discern, and then pack up. The sojourners travel for what may have been months or years, in that quiet monotonous passage of time on long road trips. Waiting…
The God-Man arrives, small, wrinkly and wet in a dark hay-filled cave stable. He wails, nurses, sleeps, and grows at normal human speed. Heaven waits in anticipation. The universe stands in the balance, unaware of and waiting for redemption.
I confess that my Christmases have lost their sense of waiting. My lingering autumn dance that then tumbles me into the second week of December catches me by surprise almost yearly. But this year, I am stopping, savoring, and deeply pondering the waiting.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
“…while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13)
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart; and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
“The creation waits in eager anticipation…” (Romans 8:19)
“So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
What about you? What helps you slow down, savor, and wait this season? I’d love to hear from you.
Great observation. It's striking, isn't it, that with Advent about waiting and anticipation, the world around us instead instills a sense of manic rush in the runup to Christmas.
Your post was interesting. There was a lot of waiting…still is. I am waiting for him to return. Any day would be wonderful. I am ready to go and enjoy heaven with our creator.
The thing that slows me down during the season is probably all the food….weighs me down. Getting big!! hahaha
Advent devotions are a family tradition. We go all out with candles, devotional, calendar, songs, and prayers. This year we are using the book, Jotham's Journey. It is a simply wonderful story. I hope you're enjoying this season of waiting
I'd be interested in how you decide which are the best activities and which are second best! We tend to say no to almost everything – scroogism? Maybe. Maybe just not liking to be too busy, regardless of the time of year!
Houseofmills,
I laughed at your slowing down joke about food. 🙂 Thanks for your email too. I am eager to see what heaven is like too, but don't mind tarrying since I have people I am praying desperately will choose Him before then.
Matt,
I agree, just when we are supposed to be slowing down, the world amps it up a level. Manic rush is the right term. It's insidious and seeps into us daily, it seems.
JustKT,
You are the second person to mention the book "Jotham's Journey" to me this week. Wow, I may have to seek that out. Is it too hard to start now on Dec. 10th?
Cabinart Jana,
I agree.. often my saying no to second best things involves saying no to most things! Imparting that to our kids is a new adventure as they wrestle balancing time with their friends and time with family too.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Such a good reminder! Have you ever seen the movie 'The Nativity Story' – I remember being struck with the same thought about how much the Christmas story was about waiting, and God coming down in the middle of our confusion and pain and loneliness. I remember thinking how amazing it was that God trusted Mary and Josef with that huge responsibility and how He trusts us with similarly huge things… Thanks for the advent reminder!
Love your post, Actually this post as well as Christmas music has helped to marvel and wonder! Thank you!