Day One

So, I'm already regretting the decision to try and blog all about Advent.  First of all, I was feeling lazy tonight.  And second of all, I don't feel any deep thoughts coming on.  But I press on!

I did some research on the themes of the Advent weeks.  When I was a little girl, my family had a little advent wreath (which was metal-- can it still be a wreath? Merriam Webster indicates a maybe on that.) and these little purple candles that went in it and we lit one every week.  I don't remember what the designated themes that we talked about were back then.  But my research (Google, woo hoo!) tells me that there is not really a standardized theme from week to week that all Christian traditions follow.  Many denominations set their own, and there are some common ones out there, like shepherds, wise men, Joseph, and Mary, etc.

My church focused on "hope" this week.  Which was great, because that's what I was thinking about.  One of the scriptures referenced was Ezekiel 37, which is about the Valley of the Dry Bones.  Ezekiel was a prophet who was given a vision of a valley full of dry bones.  (I know:  it's surprising, considering the heading of the story.)  And as he prophesied over them, God brought them back to life. "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-- a vast army." (37:10)  

This was all symbolic of the people of Israel, who were exiled in Babylon at the time.  It was God's promise to the nation that he had not forgotten them, and would restore them, although they felt hopeless.  I think it's pretty amazing to think about that in our own contexts, as well.  Even death-- even decomposition-- is not the final word.  God is capable of breathing new life into dusty old bones.  It makes me wonder what hopes and dreams I have let die that God might be wanting to breath new life into and to resurrect.  And that wondering-- that possibility-- gives me hope.