Advent Relfection #7 - In My Own Words

Well, I really and truly intended on reflecting all throughout the Advent season using Rolheiser's booklet. Getting sick interrupted that and then when I tried to get back to it I just couldn't find any inspiration in his words.

So I decided to go "off book" as we say in the theatre world and just reflect on the season in my own words.

As we all know Advent is a season of waiting... waiting for Christ's coming into the World to save us from our sin. Unfortunately the waiting ends up more like waiting in line at the store, waiting for the Christmas cookies to come out of the oven, waiting for the gifts we ordered from Amazon to be delivered, waiting for the snowplows to clear the roads so we can head to work...

I suppose if we are truly Christ-centered we can find in those moments of waiting an opportunity to be still and have a conversation with God, but when was the last time any one of us stood in the check-out line in Target and talked -- or better yet, listened -- to God?

Praying is usually reserved for bedtime, or more often sitting in the pew at church on Sunday (if we go at all). The rest of our day is filled with busyness... busyness that may seem vitally important at that time, but in reflecting upon the day all that breathless importance really is mostly just like any other day. Is there not a few minutes in the day to have an intimate moment with God? Perhaps after we have waited in line at Starbucks for that floofy coffee drink we can wait a few more moments and sit down to enjoy it and enjoy a chat with Christ at the same time?

While we are waiting for Christ's coming again on Christmas Day perhaps we can let the World wait from time to time while we reacquaint ourselves with Him and strengthen our relationship with Him...