Most all in the coming weeks, I long to hear those familiar words:
“And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
There is so much that happens between now and then, some of it wonderful, some of it not so great. As we enter December, we are in the season of Advent, a time to prepare for the coming of our Lord at Christmas, and the return of Christ at the end of all days. This can be both a wonderful and anxious time in our homes and in our lives. The watchwords of the season of the church encompass big questions for our lives. The season of Advent urges us to consider:
hope & fear deliverance
darkness & light repentance
watchfulness preparation
expectation anticipation
Meanwhile the worldly “Holiday Season” fills us with another whole set of questions and feelings. Too often our days are filled with concerns of:
Saving & spending Abundance & Scarcity
Expectation & disappointment Family peace
Cleaning, cooking, wrapping, decorating, scheduling, travel, competition, gatherings, anxiety, and the list goes on.
If this year is like so many others, there will be both times of great joy and contentment, as well as moments of disillusionment and worry.
My hope and prayer for you in this season is that you can discover joy in the preparation and the celebration. Jesus’ arrives each year into a world that is preoccupied, harried, and often ignorant of the ‘good news’ of the season. That means he arrives for me and for you. He is in this world for us, even when we don’t notice, but take time to discover the joy and peace he brings in the midst of the hustle and bustle, and share that love with those who you treasure.
