By Teri Wetzel
As I’m writing this piece about Advent, I’m sitting in a very non-holiday-like venue, an auto repair shop, waiting for four new tires to be installed on our car.
I’m struck by how little we wait these days, or how little we like to wait, and how little value it is given.
Faster is better in most cases.
We have convection and microwave ovens to reduce the time required to cook our food, and electric kettles, so that water boils even quicker. We have express check out lines at the grocery store to ensure we don’t get stuck behind someone with an overstuffed cart, and drive-through lanes, because fast food is much too slow if you have to get out of the car and walk in to order! We have 10 minute oil changes, quick cooking oats, and instant potatoes.
Immediate gratification is the name of the game. Waiting is bad. Having what you want now is very good!
That may be the view of our culture, but the season of Advent, as previous posts have said, teaches something quite different…if we are listening.
Waiting is valuable.
In fact, I’ve found, some aspects of God’s great provision only come through the purifying, sometimes painful, but always productive process of waiting.
Waiting on God is an attitude…that humility of heart that looks for Jesus in every moment of every day. In everything we do…grand or mundane.
It’s being aware of Him. Looking for His Hand. Listening for His Voice in it all.
It’s continually surrendering to His call– to lay your life down for your husband, your children, your friend, your neighbor…for Him.
And waiting on God is also time set apart for being still before the Him. Listening for Him. Being with Him. Quiet.
I have been struck recently by images of glassy smooth lakes.
Still waters reflect glory and majesty in striking, profound ways.
I wonder if it is not the same with us. When we still and quiet our hearts and minds before the glorious Lord and Master of the Heavens, is His majesty not reflected a little more clearly us in?
Oh, Lord, let it be so. Let us reflect Your image in striking and profound ways this Christmas.
As the candles are lit, the songs sung, the houses decorated, the cookies baked, the shopping conquered, whatever goes into holiday preparation, let’s not lose sight of Jesus! It sounds silly, but I know it happens so easily. We get caught up in the trimmings of the season and fail to open the gift.
Cultivate the anticipation, the expectation, the longing for Emmanuel, God With Us. Wait for, look for His presence. He is the gift.
This longing, this looking for, this waiting should mark each day throughout the year…not just Advent…but what a beautiful time to begin or renew this posture of waiting and stillness before the Lord.
Merry Christmas
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