The older I get, the more I realize that Christmas is not a day, but the culmination of a month of anticipation and reflection. Growing up in “independent” churches, that had moved away from mainstream denominations, my churches also became “independent” from many of the traditions of the historic early church. In doing so, I think we lost something of the wonder of Christmas by separating ourselves from the season of Advent, possibly fearing we might be focusing on tradition rather than truth, of symbolism rather than the person of Christ.
With the void that often comes when something is removed from our lives, we may have unknowingly replaced the “tradition” with something else that now becomes the tradition. And it may not be the best replacement! It’s possible that we have merged our “spiritual” activities with “secular” culture, including all it’s busy-ness and glitzy-ness and commercialism – all the while claiming that Christmas is not about the gifts, but about Jesus. Sometimes we might even use “Jesus” as a reason to do all the things that we do.
We religiously read the Christmas story on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve – or both), attend a special candlelight Christmas Eve service, participate in a Christmas concert or walk through a live Nativity display. All the while, almost every waking moment, we spend shopping, decorating, cleaning, cooking, wrapping presents, sending out Christmas cards, watching Christmas movies, buying festive clothing, going about trying to do all that the culture demands with a little “Jesus” thrown in to spiritualize things. Little, if any time, is actually left over for the Savior Himself. By the time Christmas Day arrives, we are just exhausted. It’s almost like we believe that if we say “Christmas is all about Jesus” enough times, then it must be about Jesus, even though our calendars and daily scurrying about to accomplish it all prove otherwise.
“Mary Jane Pierce Norton, Discipleship Ministries (states):
‘Advent done well helps us center ourselves and counterbalances that consumerism, that drive, that frantic nature of activity that is all around us in the culture. and one of the primary symbols is light overcoming darkness, dispelling the things that, that tear us down and welcoming in the light of God.’”[i]
I was reflecting on the word, “ADVENT” and these thoughts came to my mind:
Anticipation
Dawn of the Light
Visit from Heaven
Embracing the Spiritual
Night of Salvation
Time to Reflect
Last year I purchased an Advent Candle centerpiece as a reminder to focus on the coming of the Savior throughout the month of December. For several years, I read and re-read Thomas Kincade’s little Advent Devotional, Christ, The Light of the World, which I highly recommend!
Kinkade writes, “observing Advent…offers a welcome alternative to the fenzy of December’s demands. Advent is a season, not an event; a spiritual discipline, not a calendar date. Historically a time o frich tradition and meaningful reflection within the Church…an experience of anticipation, an invitation to prepare for the coming of the light of Christ into our world.”[ii]
Last year, I downloaded a series of daily Advent Scripture readings to use for my morning time with the Lord. This year, I am continuing these new “traditions”, with a different Advent Scripture reading list, because these practices help me to stay grounded, centered, focused on Jesus. The Written Word fills my heart and mind with the Living Word.
Advent officially begins today! I hope that you will join me in embracing the season of Advent this year. Take a deep breath. Slow down. Prioritize. Simplify. Reflect. Rejoice. Pray. Wait for it. Wait for Him.
Oh, God…help me learn how to welcome Advent and prepare for the coming of Christmas…Bring me into the stillness, into Your presence, that I may learn what it means to ‘wait on the Lord,’ to welcome Your coming in this holy season.[iii]
Share:
What are some ways you celebrate the season of Advent?
What spiritual discipline will you “practice” this Advent season?
[i] Walsh, Fran. Advent Reflection: Waiting for the Light. November 25, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/advent-reflection-waiting-on-the-light on November 29, 2017.
[ii] Kinkade, Thomas. Christ, The Light of the World. (page 6). 1999. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN.
[iii] Kinkade, Thomas. Christ, The Light of the World. (page 7) 1999. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN.