Adventing

 

John the Baptist tells his hearers to "Prepare the way of the Lord," and do it quickly because you don't have much time. Certainly Jesus only spent three years in public ministry so he must have felt an urgency to spread his message of love and mercy. And in the early days of Christianity, people expected Jesus to return within their lifetime so they must have felt some pressure to be ready. Each Advent we remind ourselves that Jesus' coming is certain and his day is near.

Yet most of us are very busy in these days before Christmas, shopping, decorating, sending cards, and making special holiday treats. That's not the preparation John is talking about. He called people to repentance, to a change of heart. We ought to be about preparing our hearts to receive him through silence, prayer, and awareness.

Silence is hard to come by during Advent when we are bombarded by commercials and Christmas carols. Prayer is often squeezed in at the end of the day when we are weary. Awareness is also at a premium when we are cooking, cleaning, and trying to remember things we need to do before the Big Day.

What to do? Slow down. Carve out a block of time, preferably at the beginning of the day, for quiet time with God. Ponder the Scriptures to hear Jesus' message anew. Be more conscious of the people around you, the people you often take for granted. Make homemade gifts to avoid the crowds at stores. Focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Advent can be a time of peaceful waiting if we are willing to make the effort.