Earlier this week, our daughter Elizabeth made the seven-hour drive home from her college town of Boone, North Carolina to join us for Christmas. Our dog Sadie and Elizabeth have a special bond. Elizabeth is the one who first picked Sadie, a rescue dog, out from her litter, and who has always taken special care of her. So, earlier this week, as soon as Elizabeth told me she was in her car and on her way home, I told Sadie, and here was her reaction. I almost regretted telling her, because from then on that day, she wouldn't leave the this spot at the front door.
I share this video and photo because they seem to capture the spirit of Advent.
Advent is a season of joyful anticipation. Advent is a season of waiting. Waiting can be difficult, especially in our instant message, overnight delivery, immediate results-oriented culture. But the waiting we do at Advent is a special kind of waiting. It's not Vizzini-type, impatient waiting:
and Advent waiting is certainly not fearful, uncertain, or anxious waiting. That's because we KNOW what's coming, and it is Christmas, Emmanuel, God-with-us, which is proclaimed by God as "good news of great joy." The waiting we do one more Sunday -- this, the Fourth and final Sunday of Advent -- is Sadie-like waiting: it's eager, joyful, expectant waiting of the one we love coming to spend time with us. Because the One we love, loves us, even more! See you Sunday (for one combined 10:00 service of Lessons and Carols, and then Monday, Christmas Eve, at either 10 am, 4 pm, or 8 pm!),
John