Streams of Waiting

This year I’ve been thinking of Advent as a flowing river. We are invited to step into the story, letting the stream of events swirl around us. The prophecies of old and the promises of God course by as we light the candles and sing the carols together each Sunday, yet we still stand in the stream of time, waiting for the arrival of the long anticipated Messiah.

As I reflect on it, there seems to be three different Advents that we are waiting for. The first is the coming of Christmas Day. On this day we celebrate God’s amazing plan for our salvation and redemption with the birth of Jesus, the Christ who was foretold in scripture. We mark the days with Advent calendars and the weeks with the lighting of Advent candles and it all leads up to this annual event by which we remember the gift of love God has given us.

But we also wait for the return Advent of Jesus, when the kingdom of God will be unshakably established for all time and the whole earth will rejoice in the restoration of all creation. When I see the Advent colors, the candles, the Christmas decorations, I’m reminded that another year has rolled around and still we are people who wait for our coming King.

Finally, I wait for the Christ to be fully birthed in my life. As much as I wish that what Paul said was true of me, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” (Galatians 2:20) I know that I’m still in process. Sure, I have a few fleeting moments when it is Christ who is in charge and I’m surrendered to his will, but it is far more common for me to be in a struggle for power and control.

And so this Advent I celebrate the wonderful story that has already been given to us, even while I look forward to the future events that remain hidden around the bend. And perhaps most importantly, I remember that in this moment, right now, I can surrender and welcome the Advent of Jesus into myself. Thomas Merton said, “The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ.” I want so much to be flooded with the reality of that, to be “ready for Christmas.” Amen! Come Lord Jesus, Come!