Waiting, waiting, waiting. I hate to wait! My wife laughs at me when we are out shopping and swing into the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant. If there are more than two cars in line, I leave. Why? I don’t want to wait! With microwaves and air fryers, the whole concept is to prepare food faster so we don’t have to wait! There are days in my life when it feels like waiting is all I do. Does it seem like that to you? I’d be willing to bet you’ve had some of those days, too. Do you remember the last day of school? I remember my last day of fifth grade like it was yesterday. I spent the final two hours of the day watching the minute hand of the clock drag its way around the dial. That minute hand was the slowest thing ever. I thought the end of the day and the beginning of summer would never come! If you’ve ever been to Disney World, you know what waiting is all about. Lines go on forever. You’ve talked with your friends about the best rides in the history of the world. You are ready for the experience of your life. You’ve plotted your course to make the most of your time in the most magical place on earth. You are ready to strap in and turn on the afterburners. The day finally comes, you get to the park and the line stretches out for an eternity… nobody is moving! All you can do is wait and watch.
Advent is very much like this. We pick out and put up Christmas trees, decorate homes, listen to and sing Christmas carols, schedule extra rehearsals, attend concerts, light Advent candles, carry banners, sing Silent Night, and read the Christmas story. Through all of these activities, songs, prayers, and worship—in our waiting and watching, we remember and prepare for Jesus’ birth.
Waiting and watching are essential to Advent. While we wait and watch, we prepare. This is what makes this season such an important part of the Christian year. We have four weeks to ready the church, deck the halls, and most importantly, to prepare our hearts and lives for the coming of Jesus. Many people remember the months before their younger siblings were born. There was a flurry of activity. Parents were constantly busy making preparations: setting up the crib, cleaning the entire house, buying clothes and diapers, washing blankets, and painting a special room for the nursery. All of these activities needed to be finished so that when the baby came, everyone in the family was ready to give her all the love she deserved.
God’s people had been waiting a long time. It seemed like their Messiah would never come. They were watching for someone who would fulfill God’s promises; waiting for someone who would bring peace into a tempestuous world; preparing for someone who would save them. That someone was Jesus. God’s people waited and watched—and wow, was Jesus ever worth the wait! Today, we remember the angels, the shepherds, the manger, and a tiny baby named Jesus. It is for us to make sure that we are ready, hearts open, lives prepared. I’ve been watching. I can tell you’ve been waiting. Now that we’ve prepared room in our hearts, we are ready to give Him all the love that He deserves.
Prayer:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Good Shepherd, Gate, Bread of Life, Light of the World, The Way, the Truth, the Life, Rock of Ages, Holy Comforter, Almighty God, Fathomless Mystery, Indescribable, Uncontainable, Holy One, Elohim, Adonai, YHWH: We believe one day, at Your name, every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess You, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Until that day, we wait and watch. We make room in our hearts for You. Help us be peacemakers and peace bringers, loving those around us and casting our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise. In the name of Jesus, the Christ Child, we pray. Amen
