I don't know what Advent means to you. I don't know if Advent means anything at all to you. It can bring with it many connotations, good or possibly even bad. Or it can make you run to Google to even know what I'm talking about. Let me save you some internet time. Advent is the season in the Church year that we are in right now. It literally means "the Coming." Historically the church has ended the liturgical calendar with the first two weeks of Advent and begun the next year with the last two weeks of Advent. They all help us to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
When celebrating advent we typically light candles and maybe even use some sort of advent calendar. Growing up we didn't really celebrate advent in my family. I'm not even sure I was aware of it until later in life, but we did practice anticipation. Advent is full of anticipation. My favorite Christmas decoration growing up was a golden ball with scrolly plastic on the outside. we would put this in our tree and when plugged in it sounded like chirping birds. I thought it was cool, but everyone seemed really annoyed when I insisted it be plugged in all the time. I don't know what that was all about! But my second favorite decoration were long ribbons made of some sort of velvet-y plastic with a bell on top. I'm pretty sure the bell was there to alert mom and dad when we would try to sneak a piece of the candy that was stapled to it. 25 assorted pieces of Christmas candy was attached, one for each day and the belled ribbon was hung on the wall. My two older siblings and I would anticipate each day when we could get that day's piece and count down to the day we celebrate Christmas. And now as our family grows into Christmas traditions we use a calendar with a little door to open each day revealing a magnetic figurine to place at the nativity. The light of anticipation is clear in the eyes of my children.
But it isn't just about anticipation. It's about hopeful anticipation. Sure you can anticipate and be anxious for something bad to happen, but Advent is about anticipation the incredible goodness that God brings in the person of His son Jesus. Those of us who have faith have something to look forward to, something to set our hopes on. Those who don't, well, they don't.
So go on an Advent-ure. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to give someone hope. Help someone else hope this Advent season. It may be as little as giving them a glimpse of the hope you have, or it may be helping them find the ultimate hope, salvation through Jesus Christ. This Christmas, this Advent, give hope. That is your Advent-ure. That is who we are in Jesus.
