You already know this about me.
I'm a romantic.
I have loved the music and words from The Sound of Music since I was in the 11th grade. I absolutely swoon when the Captain asks Maria if she is interested in a life with him and her response is I hope so - and then I know so.
And this has something to do with Advent?
Although our family had Christ-centered Christmases, we did not go to a church that celebrated Advent. Today I think that is rather strange because the roots of Glendale Community Church were in the Methodist Church. However, I first came to appreciate Advent - with wreaths and candles and families lighting a candle and reading scripture when we were at the Nazarene Church, Since that time, as an Episcopalian, each year I have an Advent wreath that is displayed in my home from the first Sunday of Advent and throughout the weeks that lead to Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
This year has been no exception - I've been studying "Advent" I even asked for some reactions to what people think when they hear the word Advent.
It's basically the four weeks preceding the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
But it is a time of reflection as well. There are four Sundays, each week focusing on some aspect of what a Christ-follower's life should reflect. Hope, Joy, Peace, Love. Anticipation, Celebration, Reconciliation, and Admiration. (I know I'm not a preacher, I just like words to have some sort of commonality).
This week is Hope.
I love this definition of Hope -"anticipating the future that's better than the present". That is a perfect definition for the way most of us are feeling during the 9th month of this Pandemic.
I was reminded recently of a Jerry Clower skit. It seems that there was a coon-dog after a rabbit and the rabbit went up the tree and the hunter climbed up that tree chasing the rabbit. The dog just kept barking and barking and finally, the hunter said to his friends - just shoot up here amongst us, one of us has got to get some relief.
I think that's how we feel about the Pandemic.
One of the carols we sing during the Christmas Season, O Holy Night proclaims the wonder of the night that Jesus was born saying " . . .a weary world rejoices"
That describes us this year, don't you think? We are certainly a weary world. Do you think my current Advent wreath says that?
It looks pretty sad, don't you think? Is there any hope that life will get better?
I certainly hope so.
No, I know so. I believe that waiting and watching will eventually bring a solution. And I believe it will bring Joy to the World!
Because I believe in another definition of Hope - that's a Biblically-based one - Hope is different from Optimism. Hope is based on a Person - that very Baby Whose birth we celebrate soon. He's what Advent is really all about.
And as for the Advent wreath, I promise to spiff it up a bit -- no need for it to look as sad as we all sometimes feel. Where's the Joy?
Next week.
