Each year, I lean into Advent:
“Hear it comes, here it comes!”
I lean into the Advent blur
which is
days flying by
like swirling snowflakes,
the Advent blur
which is
bell-ringing & ad-jingling
louder than a Christmas carol,
the Advent blur
which is
red & green & white Santas
contrasted
with the dead-of-night indigo
of prophets and young mothers.
I lean into the Advent blur
which is chaotic &
contradictory
rather than staking my claim
for Advent silence & serenity
because really
Advent isn’t
silent
or serene
(neither our modern Advent nor
that first ancient Expectation).
Advent
is noisy
in its anticipation.
Advent is
anxious
in its
preparations.
Advent
wonders
“Which way?”
and
“How long?”
and those are not
very serene questions.
Advent lies awake at night
afraid
of the unknown possibilities,
hopeful
for the unknown possibilities.
Advent worries over the details
and prays fervently
that things
will work themselves out.
Advent stubbornly determines
to carve out space for joy
no matter the forecast
or the news.
And I think that
the challenge of Advent,
the joy of
watching
closely
through Advent,
the miracle of
waiting
with
during Advent,
the thrill of
not hiding oneself away
from the chaos & clanging of Advent,
precisely the purpose of
leaning into
Advent’s
discordant
anxiety & anticipation
like you might lean into
a strong and whipping wind
is
to
discover
(rediscover)
that the Incarnate God
is absolutely disruptive and
wholly sensational and
amazingly present.
Understand:
it is so very good to
meet God when one’s spirit
is lilting, “O come, Emmanual!”
But to meet God amidst
the shouts & groans
of labor,
to find God amidst
the shadows
of night,
that is the struggle
and the delight
of Advent.
Come.
Lean into Advent.
Not, “Give yourself over
to the tidal wave that is
the pre-Christmas bustle.”
Not, “Draw away into
an indigo cloak
of Advent
silence.”
But come:
lean into Advent:
let yourself
fully see
and
feel
all the
expectations
and deep anxieties
of this Advent season.
Come: lean daringly into
the experience of
restless hope
and
let the Spirit
of the Coming Christ
surprise & support you
while you lean wildly
at an angle where
skewed vision
reveals: God
already
with us.
Find me reading an excerpt of Advent invitation on YouTube.