First day of Advent

And just like that Christmas was everywhere. The world went from ordinary to holiday overnight and things felt different like waking up to a world covered in freshly fallen snow. 

But it doesn't feel quiet like snow. 

It feels like an airport. 

Plans and messages.  Invitations and calendars. Sales and wish lists. The giving and the greeting and the buzz of goodwill.  

And so, today I searched for advent.  

Sunday is my usual planning day. I get a few hours to eat lunch, plan lessons for homeschool and Sunday school,  write out the week's schedule and meal plan. All the mom things. Sunday is my day to find my brain and make sure all the pieces are there.  

We're behind at Sunday school.  I had a plan to wrap up our lessons on the old testament in time to switch to the story of Jesus in place for advent.  But families were on vacation and I didn't want too many kids to miss the lesson so we will be doing the story of Queen Esther and the exile of Israel next week,  then shift to prophecies of the coming messiah on the 15th of December and I'll cram the whole beautiful story of Mary and Elizabeth and angels and Bethlehem on the 22nd. 

And as I wrote those lessons in my planner, I found advent.  

It was so long. So very long. 

Israel was ruled by one empire and then another.  And with ever generation there were new prophets who carried the light. Who spoke of a king. Who gave the people hope.  

400 years. 

Longer than America has been a country. Longer than than most things we think of as long in a historical way. Longer than anyone should hope. 

I think of the world I hope for. Could I wait 400 years? Could I live my whole life and die and my children's lives and their children's lives and their children's lives and could I pass on a hope that would live on for that many generations.  

Advent comes in our deep weariness for the world.  The pieces of the world that seem to keep going the wrong direction with little hope of ever changing.  

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

I think there was a hope that the messiah would fulfill this in a certain kind of way.  But the baby born in Bethlehem did not overthrow Rome or reestablish Israel as a mighty nation.

I think I hope God will show up in our world in a certain kind of way. 

But advent is, for me, letting go to the wildness of God.  Wildness that redeems humanity through a vulnerable baby.  Wildness that chooses the cross and the garden. 

In advent, I grab a hold of the light and hope carried by generations before me.  A hope that leans into the wildness of God who works in ways I cannot understand and brings peace that passes understanding to a weary world in need of healing.