People who know me very well know that I do not enjoy Christmas. This is for a variety of reasons. The Christmas music can be a bit repetitive and annoying. It is a holiday that is becoming increasingly consumeristic. I don't enjoy the cold that comes with snow that many other people are so fond of. Christmas socials and Christmas parties are exhausting for me. And why have ugly Christmas sweaters become such a popular thing in recent years? Isn't it counter-intuitive to go shopping to find the 'best' ugly sweater possible? But I digress.
I have recently been using the Bible reading plans on my Bible app on my phone. They are typically pretty short, but are a good way to begin my quiet time. I recently finished one, and many of the suggested plans that popped up had to do with advent. At first I was leery. It's not that I don't like reading about the Biblical story behind Christmas. I mean, the whole reason I don't like Christmas is because of how skewed the world has made it. It's just hard, because frequently even church events can be overwhelming for me in this season. I tend to go to Christmas events because it's the 'right thing to do,' instead of going to center myself. In the end, it's just tiring and instead of learning or centering myself, I find myself exhausted. (Life of the introvert.)
I finally decided that an advent devotional would be a good idea, and help me focus on what I really need to be focused on rather than being focused on how annoyed I get at the consumerism that surrounds me. Through this I was reminded that the season of advent is not about awaiting Christmas. It's hopefully waiting for Christ's birth. But beyond that, I was reminded that advent is not just the season in our liturgical calendar that happens in the 4 Sundays before Christmas. Advent is the season we are in at all times as we await Jesus' second coming.
Advent is about remembering the hope we have in God. Advent is about remembering God's perfect timing, both in sending his son for the first time and the second time. Advent is about waiting, for God's perfect timing.
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. Ecclesiastes 8:6
And here is just a fun video in case you need a 'new' Christmas song.
Living in Reckless Abandonment for Jesucristo,
Jo
