Tomorrow marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar: the first Sunday of Advent. I enjoy all of the seasons and rhythms of the liturgical calendar, but I think Advent is my favorite. Advent marks a time of waiting, of light that clears the darkness and love that changes the world. It’s a season of seemingly impossible but wildly wonderful hope – and it’s a season that catches me by surprise. I admit, I sometimes catch myself getting lost in the hustle and bustle of other things that happen during this time of the year.
Advent is a season of hope and expectation, but it’s also a season of patience and longing. This year I want to linger in the hope and the longing of this season. I want to create space in my day, and space in my heart, to embrace the tension between hope and longing.
This year, I’m taking a different approach to Advent.
To prepare my heart for the celebration of Christ’s birth I’m making room for that space I crave. How?
This year, during each day of Advent, I’m going to do something creative. It may be through music, photography, writing, drawing or maybe even painting (or maybe even in a way I haven’t even considered yet!)… I’m still crafting a list of possibilities. I’ve found that creativity is similar to, and perhaps even a practice of, faith: both require time, patience and hope. I want to dwell in that space. It’s one that I haven’t made much room for in my life lately, even though it’s a space where I’ve encountered God’s love before. I’m realizing that it’s a space I need to create in my life in general (not just during Advent).
My ultimate hope is that this practice (of creating space for creativity during Advent) will lead me closer to Christ. I’m still not sure how this will look – but I look forward to finding ways to embrace the hope and waiting of this season.
I invite you to linger in the hope and longing of Advent this year. To make space in the season to prepare for the joy and celebration of Christmas, to pause in the wonder of Christ’s birth, life, hope and love.
Let the Advent-ure begin!
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