I was standing in line at Trader Joe’s right before Thanksgiving, and overheard a young woman ask the cashier where the Advent calendars were. She said she wanted to buy the one for dogs. I stifled a guffaw when he told her to look in aisle three. This was no joke! Advent calendars help children endure the long wait until Christmas with a daily chocolate. Maybe dogs get milk bones, but do they also need help waiting for December 25?
When my daughters were young, we always had an Advent calendar (never for pets), right next to our Advent wreath. I made my girls wait to open the little window each day so we could all share the ritual, complete with lighting the candles. I lectured them that waiting and longing is half the fun. One year, my middle daughter innocently asked, “But Mommy, what are we waiting for?” My answer made no sense to her, but what a good question for everyone during Advent. Today, the art of waiting seems as obsolete as a dial telephone and the Walkman.
American culture likes to rush things. Christmas trees up at Costco before Halloween; self-checkout in all the stores; AI for ideas, letter writing; Christmas cards sent in one swoop on social media. Meanwhile, the ancient themes of waiting and watching echo down through the ages. Be alert! Be aware! Ponder, meditate, and carve out some quiet time amidst all the seasonal hoopla. Savor the moment, breathe. Reflect on the meaning of the season; watch and wait for the mystery of the Incarnation to be revealed in subtle ways. But alas, we cannot wait. We are done with Christmas before it even happens, and cannot wait until it’s over.
During the season of Advent, it often helps to ask: What am I waiting for? Take a few minutes, have a cup of coffee or tea, and try to make a list. You can even do this as you wait in line to pay for Christmas gifts, as you wait for the stoplight to change, as you wait for water to boil, or for spaghetti to cook. Get into a spiritual frame of mind. Go big and small. Do not edit, just write.
Last Sunday, the first day of Advent, after having read the Sunday Scriptures, I made my yearly list. It was an old refrain. One I have had for decades:
I am waiting for lions to lie down with lambs, for swords to be made into ploughshares, for the proud to be scattered in their conceit, for the lowly to be lifted up, for the hungry to be filled, for the fearful to find trust, and for peace in our homes, our country, our world.
This kind of waiting spans a lifetime and requires immense patience. Sadly, I am often impatient and feel like a voice crying out in the wilderness. Yet, despite sounding like an old prophet railing at the injustices of the world, I was buoyed up by a hidden grace that seemed to permeate my being. Suddenly, I felt held, sustained, and nourished by an infinite love streaming through the universe. In a split second, a sense of wonder and compassion pierced right through me. Ah. Those brief minutes of clarity are always worth the wait.
Seeking Wisdom 