Advent-Mindedness
Advent is a Latin word easily translated as “coming.” By now, the who and when is a little spoiled- it is Christ, coming anew into our world on Christmas day. Advent calls us to prepare our lives and world for Christ to come anew so that he will find a ready welcome and so that we can engage the gifts of God deeply and meaningfully. Our Advent wreath calls us to prepare the way of the Lord, not with baby clothes and a car seat, but with love, hope, joy, and peace. But Advent is not about feelings. We are not asked to feel more hopeful and feel more loving, as if we could make ourselves feel the “right” way. Advent calls us to practice love, to treat others as we wish to be treated no matter how we feel. Advent implores us to practice hope, to pursue our core values with determination and flexibility, knowing we will fail and fall down, but be willing and ready to get back up. Advent invites us to cultivate joy, to make room for God, to surprise us by being vulnerable with one another. As we practice love, hope, and joy, Advent calls us to practice peace-making, which is not the absence of conflict, but the creation of a new future. Advent culminates in the birth of our Lord, who is coming to bring light to the dark and new sight. Let us practice Advent together and be ready both to receive the Christ child and to share him with our world.