The Art of Waiting in Joyful Anticipation

I woke up this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, and gave myself permission to think red and green. I’m old fashioned, I guess, but I really try to stick to focusing on Thanksgiving until it’s actually over, then I think about Christmas.

As I was boxing up the pumpkin placemats and chiseling the remnants of the stuffing out of the crockpot this morning, it hit me that in 28 days it will be Christmas. A shot of adrenaline coursed through my body. I don’t know why I had such a dramatic response. This happens every year. 

I find I have to fight the panic that sets in if I let the world tell me when and how to prepare for the coming of Christmas. If I can let my faith inform me just when and how to prepare, I find I’m much calmer and at peace as I go about the tasks of the season. My focus is more on waiting and joyful anticipation, the heartbeat of Advent.

These four weeks of Advent are meant to teach us some important life lessons. We are forced to learn the art of waiting in joyful anticipation.

Waiting is an act of pausing which can be frustrating at this time of year when To-Do lists grow. Waiting seems to be unproductive time, but in reality, it can be very productive. Waiting is an opportunity to practice patience, cultivate hope, and reflect on what is really important. These are all things that we could sure use more of these days.

In Advent we are invited to a waiting, but this wait isn’t meant to be passive. Our Advent wait is to be filled with joyful anticipation.  We are to take time to imagine what is to come – the birth of Jesus, and just what that baby, coming into the world, means for us.

I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to practice the art of waiting in joyful anticipation these next few weeks. Take that disposition into all your Christmas preparations. See if it doesn’t make things a little more merry and bright.

Joan