Day One: An Introduction
A place for everything and everything in its place. That’s the key to a tidy home, a tidy mind and a fulfilled life. The problem is things, people and ideas do not like to stay in their place. Christmas is the vilest offender. A few years ago, I was looking for some chocolate coins; to use for an assembly. As I walked into the Supermarket, I was convinced they would not be available. There they were; in the Christmas aisle, in September. The following week, I saw the child of a friend sitting on the couch, looking wistfully into the air. I asked what they were doing. They responded in an ethereal way ‘just sitting here, waiting for Christmas.’ Christmas does not like to stay in its place, and because of that, its potency is diluted.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am all about Christmas. I love it, but I love it in its proper place. I used to love the artificial barrier that Thanksgiving provided when I lived in the states. After Thanksgiving, the community I lived in, went Christmas crazy. However, in the last few years, the signs of Christmas would start to be visible before the last bite of the pumpkin pie had been digested. It would start to spread itself from almost the beginning of September. You would see hints of decorations, and preparations and I just wanted to yell No! Keep Christmas special, keep it in its place.
Advent, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, is the season of waiting.
It is the season of patient expectation.
A season to look and wait for the signs of Christmas.
The signs of songs, of light, of trees and of angels.
Join me on this Advent journey as we explore the signs of Christmas.
