Hope and Joy

For the first time in three years, I am not working retail for the holiday season. I haven't had to look at Christmas merchandise since October. There aren't mobs of crazed shoppers demanding that I find the perfect gift book for their dad's brother's kid's next door neighbor. I am free of the grudging dread I feel as I see the mobs start descending.

So what is this season supposed to be, if it's not a frenzied free for all at the mall? I was challenged at church last week to not let my holiday get as crazy and frenzied and busy as the rest of the world. I should use this time to slow down and reflect and take time out for the poor. And as I contemplated what I could do differently, I realized that the church calendar provides a season for reflection before Christmas. Something that as a nondenominational church, ours seems to have forgotten. It's something called Advent.

My mother's church has an advent wreath, and lit a candle each week before Christmas, but I never really sensed what it all was about. But it's more about hope--looking with hope toward God for our salvation. Like Israel did for centuries, waiting for their Messiah. It is also a time of expectancy.. when we can look with hope again, toward the second advent of our King.

So let us not look at the coming season with dread--but hope and joy. Joy that God does provide a way of salvation for His people, and hope that He is coming again to take us home.