Advent

By Christina Puntigam

I remember when I was pregnant with our daughter.  There was talk of the nesting syndrome.  It didn’t happen in the way that I thought it would.  I think it came out in my reading every chance I could get and by sleeping in excess of 12 hours every day.  My body was preparing me for the road ahead.  The one frocked with sleepless nights and little time to read or do much of anything else for that matter.  

It becomes vivid to me when I see other new mothers doing the same kinds of things.  The frenzy that occurs before the birth seems to be universal.  But now that I’m on the other side of it, I can see a sense of peace in it as well.  And it is probably why Advent, the 24 days before Christmas, means so much to me.

Every year we decorate our home, bake bagels, light candles, invite people over and it is all a preparation.  He is coming.  We are about to see the King come to Earth and become a baby.  There is much to do.  I need to tidy my home, prepare a meal, and wash the linens on the guest bed.  

Wait, He’s already here.  In fact, when he showed up over two thousand years ago, there was no party, no linens to be cleaned, and no meal in His honor.  It was almost as if no one knew He was on His way.  That’s what I want to prevent in my life.  I want to make sure that I am keeping a place ready just for Jesus.  Advent reminds me that I do need to prepare for His coming, but it’s not my home that needs tidying, it’s my heart.

We light candles, sing songs, and celebrate each Sunday of Advent to help prepare our hearts.  The Christ Child came in the most humble of births and each day we are called to remember that He now lives in us and that we are born anew each day.

There are numerous books available to help you celebrate Advent including Tracks in the Straw by Ted Loder, Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by various authors, Christ in Christmas by Dr. James Dobson, Christmastide by Phyllis Tickle.  You can find various resources on the internet to learn more about Advent and to find new ways to celebrate this time of preparation.

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