Waiting... advent one

In The Season of Advent we are waiting to receive the Christ child anew come the season of Christmas. We’re waiting on The Light of the World to pierce the darkness of the season, our lives, and the greater world. The season of Advent offers us the opportunity to be with waiting and all that waiting brings up for us not just in Advent but in our everyday lives around the calendar. 

The Scripture readings assigned to the first Sunday in Advent share with us key instructions for waiting. We are to “wake up from sleep” (Romans 13:11). We are to “keep awake” (Matthew 24: 42) and “be ready” (Matthew 24:44). 

We all have ways we drown out the anxiety of waiting for the unknown to emerge for plans, results, news to be made manifest in our lives. In our business or laziness or whatever way we dull the anxiety of waiting in essence we fall asleep. 

And, when we fall asleep we are no longer truly waiting in and with any kind of faithfulness. Our coping mechanisms become an idol rather than waiting with God for God to reveal God’s plans. Instead of falling asleep as we wait, now is the moment to wake up from sleep. Can we stay awake trusting a loving God is right there with us as we wait? 

One of the biggest risks of falling asleep while we wait is that our sleep (busy daze, lazy haze) could very well prevent us from seeing, experiencing the very thing for which we’ve been waiting. The Gospel of Matthew shares that we must keep awake for we do not know on what day the Lord is coming. 

We do not wait alone. We are waiting collectively with a loving and merciful God.

If you want to deepen your practice of Advent this week, I invite you to utilize the meditation designed to help you get still and quiet. It’s created to assist you in anchoring your attention in the present moment, all of which empowers you to stay awake as you wait.

Blessings on this First Week of Advent, Caroline

Mindful Christians Podcast: 10 minute meditation

The meditation is designed to help you get still and quiet, assist you anchoring your attention in the present moment, all of which empowers you to stay awake as you wait.

Mindful Christians Podcast: Extended Version of the Blog