Anticipation

“Advent is a desire in the Now for the Not Yet”

I keep thinking of these words I read in a beautiful little book this week – and they came crashing over me in church today as we sang, “Come Jesus Come, We’ve been waiting so long…”

Advent – that word that quite literally means “coming” and embodies that long, tortuous wait.

I remember those nights in Africa – all we had was a little stump of a tree chopped down in the jungle near our house in the village. Decorated with sparse ornaments, but to a little girl, it held all the promise and wonder of the “not yet”. When would it be time to start the Christmas celebration? The minutes turned to hours, and I can still feel my stomach tighten in anticipation.

But we were on a different schedule in those days. We had many visitors coming by, and many wouldn’t leave until late at night. We couldn’t start our family celebration until we were alone – and so this young girl waited.

Advent. The desire in the Now for the Not Yet. I feel that every year when Christmas rolls around … and I turn my eyes heavenward, because I know He has promised to come back and set things right. Like He started to when He came the first time.

On this 3rd week of Advent, I feel the stirring in my stomach as I wait. And as we sing that beautiful song, “Come Jesus Come”, I feel a double anticipation … it’s getting close.

As Christmas nears, what are we thinking about? How many gifts left to purchase? All that needs to be done this week? The schedule, the travel, the preparations… they threaten to consume and block out the light sometimes. So when I read these words this week, they caught my attention:

“One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD… wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD. Ps 27:4 & 14

Advent – that word that quite literally means “coming”. The answer to the wait.

And here at the start of a new week, as my to do list threatens to cloud out all rational thought, I ask God to remind me of His promise and to help me wait in hopeful anticipation, knowing He is a God who keeps all His promises. Let us all take a moment to lift our eyes above the fray and watch for His appearing.