The Anticipation
This time of year is generally full of anticipation. From a child's perspective, it is the anticipation of Christmas Day, with presents under the tree calling out to be unwrapped. The waiting is almost unbearable! I found that out firsthand this year when Audrey opened up the box of presents that arrived at our house the first week of December. She opened the box to take a peek. When I asked why she did it, she said, "Mom, I just couldn't stop myself." It's hard not to laugh when a five-year-old tells you something like that in such a serious voice.
Most years, the anticipation of life would be pretty normal for us: Anticipating big life changes or milestones. Anticipating new seasons. Anticipating holidays. This year, however, we are looking forward to next year more than ever. We are looking ahead with great anticipation for a time when things might start to look more "normal" again.
What are we missing when we look so far ahead? Are we missing the moments of today by being so focused on tomorrow or next year?
Growing up, we didn't do the whole Advent thing. It wasn't until our family became part of Hillspring that I ever spent time focused on the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For most of my life, those weeks were spent digesting the food from the previous holiday to make room for the next.
However, Advent serves as a dual purpose for us. It keeps our focus on the coming Jesus while also keeping us focused on today. The candles remind us of the love, joy, peace, and hope we have because of the coming Jesus. Through all the hustle and bustle the holidays tend to bring, Advent can help slow our minds down and keep us focused on the reason for the season.
The Christmas season and celebrating Jesus' birth is like rewatching one of my favorite movies. I know the story by heart, I know the villains and the heroes, I know the ending. Nonetheless, I enjoy the story year after year. Though 2020 is a new story for us, which is the most unusual Christmas I hope we have, we still have much to celebrate. This year more than ever, we have to share with the world the love, joy, hope, and peace we know in Christ.
If we focus so much on next summer and things we want to be different this year rather than be Jesus in the world today, we are missing out. The world is missing out. Instead of anticipating the normalcy, let's anticipate the love of Jesus being felt by the people we come in contact with today. Let's expect to bring joy to those we work with, both in-person and virtually. Let's live in suspense as we bring the hope we know through our Savior to the hopeless. Let's believe the world can find peace in a baby, wrapped in swaddling cloth, lying in a manger.
Anticipate God using you today. Not just tomorrow. Be ready for God to do great things. He is always at work. We only need to anticipate seeing His mighty works each and every morning.
Anticipate like a five-year-old. "I just can't stop myself!"
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Go be a blessing,
April Bergez
Worship Leader