Advent, Baby!

Advent starts tomorrow.  I was in a staff meeting at church earlier this week, and my pastor asked us what sorts of things are important to us/ stand out about the season of Advent.  I'll be honest (here, at least!):  my very first thought was that I love Hallmark Christmas movies-- the cheesier the better!  I did not say this in staff meeting, and instead said something else that seemed a little more appropriate and was also true.  BUT, it struck me that I don't really want Hallmark to define what Christmas is for me.  Although I will still be watching a ridiculous amount of cheesy movies.

Some of my most meaningful Christmases in the past few several years have been the ones away from home.  I love Christmas and love to be with family during this time of year, but being in foreign and unfamiliar places on Christmas was a great opportunity to really let the hope and joy of God With Us resonate in me.

My first Christmas away from home was spent in the Philippines.  We spent time working with various YWAM ministries-- a lot of staff were away for the holidays, so we were able to help fill in a bit in the feeding program for kids that lived by this one railroad track.  We also spent time with people who lived on a giant trash heap, and with several others who had recently been relocated from the trash heap to government housing, where they were trapped in a cycle of poverty that was going to be difficult to break.  YWAM was (and still is) working to make education available for many of these people, and had a lot of other ministries happening as well.  I remember being overwhelmed by the hardness of life for these people, and feeling homesick and guilty about that.

On Christmas night we went to an English speaking church service.  I don't remember much about it, except for the moments when we sang the song, "O Holy Night."  As we sang the words, "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices," it clicked with me.  Here I was working with these dirty, scared, exhausted people, but our weary efforts at survival were not the end of the story.  "For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."  Hope has arrived.  The longing of this world can be fulfilled.  Emmanuel-- God With Us-- is here to repair what has been broken.

In our staff meeting, my pastor talked a bit about the anticipation of the Advent season.  I like that aspect of it; I like the symbolism of not quite being there yet... even though we know the story already.  I still have moments of longing, in this messed-up world, waiting for everything to be made right.  But I believe it will be, and the beginning of that is the hope that comes with the birth of the Messiah.

So my plan is, this year, to really participate in Advent.  I actually don't know as much about it as I'd like to, but I like the idea of making a point to focus on the coming of the Christ.  So I'm going to learn. And write.  And probably say some things that I will disagree with in a year.  But that's okay with me.