Even though all the stores and television ads are telling you otherwise,
Christmas doesn’t arrive until December 25th.
Shocking news, isn’t it?
The Christmas season is in full swing.
All the music, all the decorations, all the credit card purchases.
All of it.
But wait.
This is Advent – a time of preparing for Christmas. Just as Lent is the time leading up to Easter, Advent is supposed to be slower, quieter, and more introspective as we get ready for Christ to arrive. Instead, we jump into full-on celebration right from the start of December and by the time the 25th rolls around, we are exhausted and kind of glad it’s all over. We’re getting it all wrong.
“Advent is like the hush of the theater just before the curtain rises.”
Frederick Buechner
Four weeks are built into the Christian calendar to “help us cultivate waiting, hope, and longing. And longing isn’t short. Longing literally takes a looooong time or it’s not really a longing, is it?” (A. J. Sherrill, Rediscovering Christmas)
Oh, I know. Waiting isn’t easy. We are so used to immediate gratification—getting what we want when we want it. Advent waiting, though, allows God time to do deep work in us, if we sit still long enough.
I’m trying to reign in the hustle and bustle during Advent. I’d like to save some mental, emotional and physical energy for the day the waiting is over and the true celebration begins—Christmas Day! I don’t want to be so stuffed with Christmas by the 25th that I sleep through the real show.
Hush! The curtain is about to rise!
a small drop of ink 
Yes!
I was just listening to She Reads Truth Podcast, and they too were saying this is Advent, a time of waiting. Instead of preparing our hearts for Christmas, and pondering what it all means, we jump right into Christmastide, the 12 days of Christmas beginning Dec. 25th, when the celebrations should begin. By Christmas Day, I am usually so tired of it all, and ready to put it away by New Years Day. This year I want to spend more time pondering God’s love for us, Jesus’ coming down to earth in humble beginnings to be our Messiah, and how I can learn from my Lord how to better love God and Others.
Thanks Dinah, as always, for your beautiful insights!
It’s been fascinating to learn the early church traditions around Advent. Even today, some church traditions teach their people to eat only plain food, no sweets or rich fare, during Advent. Then they pull out all the stops for Christmas Day and indulge in a feast! Another one I’ve heard is to use only candle light at night during Advent, go to bed early, sit in the darkness; then on Christmas Day, light up everything because the Light of the World has come! So cool.
The last couple years, I’ve been doing 12 Days of Christmas gifts. One year it I wrapped up 12 different kinds of coffee samples and we had a different one every morning for 12 days! I’m realizing that we put everything away just when the celebration is supposed to get started! Blessings on you, Paige! Thanks for your beautiful insights!
This is such a beautiful reflection, Dinah. I felt my own heart settle into the calm of the waiting as I read. What a timely reminder!