Dear Friends,
I sit at the green light at the crossing of 6th and Washburn, and the person in front of me is off in another world too oblivious to move. What goes through my head is “What are they waiting for?” I look around, and I look for a phone next to their heads. Are they okay? Then they move forward, and all is well again.
It’s Advent which means The Waiting. What are we waiting for? We call our silent worship “waiting worship.” What are we waiting for? Ask a child and some will know the days until Christmas Eve. They are counting on Santa to bring them their hoped-for toys. They are waiting for the surprises they hope are under the Christmas Tree on Christmas morning. They know what they are waiting for. Advent is a time of waiting, anticipation, and hope, as it is with open worship. The proper answer to this question is “Emmanuel” which means “God with us.” So, we are waiting for the presence of God. Both in Advent and in open worship.
What do you do when you don’t feel it or you don’t get it? Holidays aren’t everybody’s shtick. Maybe you are sick of the sound of ripping paper and people zooming through the stores in frantic, chaotic self-absorption. Maybe this is the first Christmas that you are processing a loss, or maybe for you, family isn’t this glowing center of love that the Christmas movies make it out to be. Maybe you are alone. Maybe these short days and longer nights bring you down. It’s much more than Ba Humbug! What is worth waiting for?
Especially right now. There are wars, and people acting like they want to start wars. Our defense system is now the Department of War. Military boots are on the ground in our cities. ICE is actively kidnapping people, some without reason except race, and preparing to send them to who knows where. How can we talk about peace on Earth when all around are inequalities and stifled lives? Do we give up on peace? Do we sit at the green light and daydream for better? Do we just give up on waiting all together?
It’s still coming. Just an assurance. It might not be a spectacular event, but if you intentionally wait on God’s presence, it will show up, most of the time like a whisper. It was there all along. We just couldn’t hear it over the racket. What makes it feel distant many times is what we have put in our lives to drown out the pain. Taking all of that out might make Advent happen for you, or it might leave you with a fear of a gaping hole. Healing is a sacred act. Don’t wait at the green light. It’s time to make that appointment, call that friend, send that card, volunteer at that shelter, smile for a second, do that small act of kindness — and as you do these things, listen. It will get louder. It’s Advent, and the voice is saying, “I love you. I’ve been right here all along.”
Warmly,
Leigh
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