For some years I have played with the idea that Advent is the Season of Expectation, of the looking and the longing for the return of Jesus, mirrored in our waiting for the joy of Christmas Day.
I keep wondering if Expectation is such a cool word. Expectations are things that destroy relationships, are often dashed, and leave people feeling diminished and devalued when in reality they should be elated in what they were able to achieve.
I was a little tired of hearing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem by the second week of November. I think we get it worse in Australia because we do not make a big thing of Thanksgiving so before Halloween is over we move into retail overdrive for Christmas.
And I don't mean that Advent should be celebrated as Christmas already in the retail sector, but perhaps rather that sense of excitement of something about to happen,
of a new day dawning.
Maybe it's a bit like having a President Elect, you know its coming, and many are excited or fearful about it, and people will prepare, they will get ready, And whilst in one sense we know, in another sense we do not know.
Advent is a Season of Anticipation, marked by Hope, Light, Joy and Love. Perhaps we can recapture something of that spirit of Anticpation.
