Waiting Advent the coming. . .

Tidings of comfort and joy! Why does the time leading up to December 25 seem so harsh and dreary? Oh, yes, there are parties, noise, loud music-even special songs, flashing lights–but lots of emptiness–yes?
We have just begun a four week waiting period leading to the holy feast of Christmas. It might be that we have forgotten the “reason for the season.”

This first week stands for the 4000 years the people in the Holy Land waited for the one who was to save them from the Roman conquerers. Would he be a king, a wise and learned man, an artist, a soldier, a priest? Things were pretty bad. Even though there was peace in the land there were an awful lot of beggers, lepers, poor unable to find work. Why would anyone pay someone to work when they could purchase cheap labor to do their tasks.

Sounds a lot like the times we live in–our slaves are a little different as they worship drugs or popular persons or things. But those in olden times were also into royalty, money, taxes, depression, and stress.

We, however, are lucky. we can look back into history and see what happened; we can think about this time and look back on it as we prepare for that special day. We can be saved. We can be forgiven. We can celebrate.

Think about what will make this year different for you. Think how you can make this year different. And let us begin this very different celebration of Christmas 2009!