Trisha Huffman | December 17, 2015
Advent by definition means “the arrival of a notable person or event.” In the Christian Church it is the season leading up to Christmas, including the four preceding Sundays. So Advent is the time of year we are called as Christians to focus on the arrival of the most notable figure of our faith, the Christ child, the promised one, the beginning of the new covenant between God and man.
Some years, I am better able to focus on this miraculous event. In some years, life gets in the way. I have used children, job, extended family, sickness and death of close family and friends, and horrible world events as distractions during this Advent season to keep me from appreciating the pure and unselfish gift of the Christ child. I have even used giving to others to keep me from focusing on the meaning of the gift of the Christ child. By that I mean, I can go through the motions of “giving” to others during this season without reflecting on the reason for giving. I am assuming I am not unique. After all, we are all human and tend to focus on our own circumstances instead of the bigger picture.
As I age (gulp), I am becoming more reflective. I find that I need to take the time to put things in perspective and reflect on how to improve not only my life but the lives of others. Advent is the time for such reflection. Some years during this time, we are more capable of reflection than others. Some years our faith is stronger than other years, and some years our faith is in a holding pattern. No worries. Advent gives us the perfect excuse to read the Christmas stories in the Bible and to read the passages in the Old and New Testament of the promise God gave to us of a new covenant symbolized by the coming of the Christ child. He promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 to be our God and we would be his people. He promised to restore us in Psalms 80:1-7. The Christ child is the symbol of his promise to be our God and to restore us.
No matter where I am in life, this promise renews me. For me, Advent is for reflection and renewal. I do not know about you, but I can use a time for restoration. My prayer for you this season, no matter where you are in life, is that you find the time for reflection and that you find renewal in the Christ child. That was God’s plan! Embrace it and rejoice.
Prayer: May this season help you find renewal in God’s promises and restoration of body and mind.
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