The Christian season of Advent is about waiting, which is a topic I know a bit about. As a soldier, I can confidently say, “If they gave awards for waiting, we would have been some of the most decorated people of the century”. For example, in March of 2006, I set up my countdown clock at CSC Scania, Iraq. Each day, I would look to see if I was one day closer to getting home.
One day, closer to being back with Bev and the kids.
One day closer to being out of harm’s way,
one day closer to….well, life.
As it turned out, the battalion's countdown clock would grow to 486 days of combat and twenty-two months of deployment. I know something about waiting.
Some of you do, too. You are waiting for a day when there is more sunshine than clouds (I am not talking about the weather). You are waiting for a day when you don’t feel the loss of a dear one. You are waiting for an invitation to the party, someone to love, someone to care for, someone with whom to build dreams. Or, maybe you are waiting for the day you get to go home to heaven and join your family who preceded you. You know about waiting, too.
If any of this rings true, then Advent is your season. The holy “pause” you are in signals a truth that changes lives. A truth so powerful you would drag yourself across the desert just for a glimpse of it. Oceans are not deep enough, and mountains do not reach high enough to hide this truth. Here it is.
The wait is worth it. At the end of this wait, Jesus comes—He always comes. The truth about Christmas is not that Jesus was born centuries ago. The truth is that He has never stopped being born into our lives. The rhythm of Advent repeats itself a thousand times in each life. We wait for God to come, and God comes. Hang in there.
Have a great week!
Pastor Corey