by Trina Riley
Isn’t it ironic that as we rush into this holiday season… time, hearts and souls filled with parties, appointments, meetings, food, obligations, stress, rush, and stuff, we are entering into a beautiful sacred period of time in the Christian year known as Advent… WAITING? In the midst of chaos, a baby is born in a manger to a carpenter and a young girl who said “yes” to something far beyond her… beautiful, dark, and uncertain… and then spent her whole life pondering the coming of Jesus into her life. Ponder means to consider and carry deeply within. It does not mean to fix, escape or even to figure out. Could it be that this Jesus came to teach us not to be more spiritual, but to be human… real… humble… fully present… eyes to really see Him? To say “yes,” to wait, to carry deeply, to be with, to wonder and to see? I am astounded at my own tendencies and oftentimes knee-jerk reactions to life. Subtle undertones of guilt, condemnation, escapism, analyzing, and even fixing in the name of Jesus often thrust me into willpower and striving. But I am gently reminded this Advent season that life is a season of active waiting… not passively waiting to get out of the present trials or darkness, but of “waiting in God,” as Rick puts it. To live fully present with Him in the midst of life, eyes wide open with expectant hope, learning to truly see Christ. Leaning in to Him and letting go… loosening my clenched grip around expectations and security. Tending to the longings of my soul… my longing for Him. Patiently watching for Him to show up and surprise me. Surprise, because He most often shows up in ways I am not expecting, if only I have eyes to see. As I get quiet and present, arms wide and hands emptied, He shows up in power and glory in the ordinary… far beyond my wildest imaginations, time and time again. Advent literally means “arrival.” What are the longings of your heart? Will you “wait in God” this Advent season to be surprised at the arrival of Christ in your life?
Isn’t it ironic that as we rush into this holiday season… time, hearts and souls filled with parties, appointments, meetings, food, obligations, stress, rush, and stuff, we are entering into a beautiful sacred period of time in the Christian year known as Advent… WAITING? In the midst of chaos, a baby is born in a manger to a carpenter and a young girl who said “yes” to something far beyond her… beautiful, dark, and uncertain… and then spent her whole life pondering the coming of Jesus into her life. Ponder means to consider and carry deeply within. It does not mean to fix, escape or even to figure out. Could it be that this Jesus came to teach us not to be more spiritual, but to be human… real… humble… fully present… eyes to really see Him? To say “yes,” to wait, to carry deeply, to be with, to wonder and to see? I am astounded at my own tendencies and oftentimes knee-jerk reactions to life. Subtle undertones of guilt, condemnation, escapism, analyzing, and even fixing in the name of Jesus often thrust me into willpower and striving. But I am gently reminded this Advent season that life is a season of active waiting… not passively waiting to get out of the present trials or darkness, but of “waiting in God,” as Rick puts it. To live fully present with Him in the midst of life, eyes wide open with expectant hope, learning to truly see Christ. Leaning in to Him and letting go… loosening my clenched grip around expectations and security. Tending to the longings of my soul… my longing for Him. Patiently watching for Him to show up and surprise me. Surprise, because He most often shows up in ways I am not expecting, if only I have eyes to see. As I get quiet and present, arms wide and hands emptied, He shows up in power and glory in the ordinary… far beyond my wildest imaginations, time and time again. Advent literally means “arrival.” What are the longings of your heart? Will you “wait in God” this Advent season to be surprised at the arrival of Christ in your life?
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