Watching and Waiting... at Red Lights
For Advent, I decided to write about my experiences through this season. So let me tell you about today...
When I woke up, I knew it was going to be a busy day. With church in Winnipeg (45 minutes away from our home) and a Christmas Party in the afternoon in a town 45 minutes the other direction, I knew I didn't have much "wiggle-room" in my schedule. So, when we left church 20 minutes later than I had hoped, the first red light I hit was a nuisance. Then I hit another, and another, and another. Seriously, I hit more red lights on McPhillips Street than I can ever remember. After I hit number 4 or 5, I asked myself, "Is there an Advent lesson here?" What was I doing as I attempted to hurry along the path set out for me that day? Watching and waiting. Watching for those red lights to turn green. Waiting out those seconds that felt like minutes.
Isn't that part of what we are to allow ourselves to acknowledge and even experience during the season of Advent? We are a people who are to be watching and waiting for Christ's return. Advent means arrival or coming. In the season of Advent we wait for two things:
1) The first is something we are very familiar with - especially since we were all children once! We wait for Christmas. Through the season of Advent, we wait for the time to celebrate the incarnation of God. We wait to remember and proclaim Immanuel - God with us. We wait to acknowledge and rejoice in the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We wait to receive gifts!
2) The second is something that our world is not familiar with at all. In Advent, we are reminded that all Christians are to be watching and waiting for the return of Christ. We reflect on our need for a Saviour and Deliverer. We get serious about making sure our lives are in line with His Kingdom and His ways. Judgement is coming and we need mercy. In contrast to the jovial spirit of society, we may be somber. We are also grateful that full redemption is coming and we humble ourselves as we continue to put our trust in the Lord.
The readings from the Revised Common Lectionary speak to both of these themes. To read them all, click here. Jeremiah 33:14-16 promises the first Advent of Christ. Psalm 25:1-10 speaks of the humble trust we are to have in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 shares an excellent prayer to pray for yourself or others as we wait for Christ to come again. In Luke 21:25-36, Jesus tells of signs of His return and how we are to watch and pray.
Throughout this first week of Advent, let the red lights and stop signs you come across as you travel through your days be a prayer prompt for whatever it is you need this Advent season.
in Christ,
Tracy
When I woke up, I knew it was going to be a busy day. With church in Winnipeg (45 minutes away from our home) and a Christmas Party in the afternoon in a town 45 minutes the other direction, I knew I didn't have much "wiggle-room" in my schedule. So, when we left church 20 minutes later than I had hoped, the first red light I hit was a nuisance. Then I hit another, and another, and another. Seriously, I hit more red lights on McPhillips Street than I can ever remember. After I hit number 4 or 5, I asked myself, "Is there an Advent lesson here?" What was I doing as I attempted to hurry along the path set out for me that day? Watching and waiting. Watching for those red lights to turn green. Waiting out those seconds that felt like minutes.
Isn't that part of what we are to allow ourselves to acknowledge and even experience during the season of Advent? We are a people who are to be watching and waiting for Christ's return. Advent means arrival or coming. In the season of Advent we wait for two things:
1) The first is something we are very familiar with - especially since we were all children once! We wait for Christmas. Through the season of Advent, we wait for the time to celebrate the incarnation of God. We wait to remember and proclaim Immanuel - God with us. We wait to acknowledge and rejoice in the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We wait to receive gifts!
2) The second is something that our world is not familiar with at all. In Advent, we are reminded that all Christians are to be watching and waiting for the return of Christ. We reflect on our need for a Saviour and Deliverer. We get serious about making sure our lives are in line with His Kingdom and His ways. Judgement is coming and we need mercy. In contrast to the jovial spirit of society, we may be somber. We are also grateful that full redemption is coming and we humble ourselves as we continue to put our trust in the Lord.
The readings from the Revised Common Lectionary speak to both of these themes. To read them all, click here. Jeremiah 33:14-16 promises the first Advent of Christ. Psalm 25:1-10 speaks of the humble trust we are to have in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 shares an excellent prayer to pray for yourself or others as we wait for Christ to come again. In Luke 21:25-36, Jesus tells of signs of His return and how we are to watch and pray.
Throughout this first week of Advent, let the red lights and stop signs you come across as you travel through your days be a prayer prompt for whatever it is you need this Advent season.
in Christ,
Tracy
This is such a beautiful reading, Tracy - thank-you for bringing this season into such clear focus.
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