The season of advent has already begun! It’s one of my favorite times each year and one marked by preparing, waiting, and listening. I think I welcome advent as a structured, seasonal time because preparing, waiting and listening are often activities that I have a hard time doing, but long to do more of because they are so good for me. Intentionally doing these activities puts me in a posture where I slow down, I remember where my identity truly comes from, and I can prioritize life again.
I find myself jumping into advent this year from a too-full schedule and feeling behind, unorganized and un-centered. All the more reason for me to stop, breathe deeper and slower, carve out some time to wait and prepare, and try to listen and re-center around the amazing truth of Emmanuel-God with us.
One of my favorite resources (for Advent and throughout the year) is the Center for Lived Theology – here is their first week of Advent reflections:
Advent: a Season of Waiting
We spend much of our lives waiting; waiting is at the heart of our human condition. Often we get tired of waiting. Sometimes our waiting is filled with dread. Sometimes we joyfully anticipate the happy conclusion of our waiting.
All of us are, consciously or not, waiting for God. Every unfulfilled, increased or new desire is an echo of our deepest longing for ultimate fulfillment in the God whose