By Pr. Rhoda Klein Miller
Christmas is just one month away. I was trying to hold onto November’s fall vibes but every shop I enter is already playing Christmas tunes. Neighbours are stringing lights. People on the sidewalks carry decorations & gift wrap or sip their spiced beverages from festive cups. I sense a happy anticipation but I feel resistant to join it. I’m not ready for this. Why not? Maybe it’s the shorter days and meagre sunlight that overshadow my mood. Or the dissonance of celebration amid a war torn world. Maybe it is the sense of pressure, extra work & preparation involved that I have no bandwidth for.
I see this paralleled in our spiritual experience. There are indications all around that a big shift is on the horizon. The Spirit is appealing to all senses. Jesus is calling, inviting us to meet Him now and join the expectation of our reunion. But the Enemy makes us feel distracted with present concerns, unprepared in character or incapable of hope in distress. The good news is that Jesus will handle the work of readiness. As with the crowded town of Bethlehem 2 millennia ago, we just need to make some room for him in our hearts and lives.
Advent season is just four weeks in the Christian liturgical calendar but the Second Advent is meant to bring hope, peace, joy and love every day as we live trusting the promise of Jesus’ return (John 14:3).