An Advent Heart

One roommate is asleep across the hall, and the other has yet to come home. The man in the apartment below is snoring, and our heat kicks in when the temperature hits 68 degrees. Mason jars filled with homemade granola, wrapped in twine, and bearing the truth of 1 John 4:9 sit on my floor; these are Christmas gifts for kind neighbors and sweet friends. I find myself just two days away from the stillness of Christmas break-- Christmas, are you really upon us?

Twinkling lights, peppermint coffee, cozy blankets- it almost makes me weak at the knees. This Christmas bliss is my favorite time of the year. I anticipate family gatherings and quiet mornings, late night laughter and shared breakfasts. I can hardly wait for endless baking and with that, endless eating (+ running?), and my heart swells thinking about enjoying a book just before drifting off to sweet, sweet sleep...

This Christmas season is different, though. Strip away the expectations and ambience; remove the candy cane cookies and wrapped gifts; take away family, health, and all remnants of happiness-- the essence of Christmas remains.

And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father, full of grace and truth. 

In fact, this year brings with it more comfort, more joy, and more peace than any other Christmas season in years past. And it's not because of a greater abundance of gifts or a prettier Christmas tree. It's because the Lord, in His grace, has given what I like to call an advent heart.
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I've spent much of this semester learning about and meditating on the ideas of hope and waiting. Waiting and hope. I've read and cherished David's words, wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. I've prayed to become a woman whose hope is so far rooted in Him that I can laugh at my future and smile at the days to come. I've spent much of this fall semester becoming friends with waiting and hope...

And it has not been in vain. Once again, I find myself in a place of waiting, but this is a place that we all find ourselves in. Humanity, the human race, all seven billion of us, find ourselves in a place which is between Christ's ascension and His return- the middle of God's story of redemption. A place of tension, angst, anticipation.

This season I celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as I celebrate His first coming, my heart anxiously awaits His second when He will come on the clouds with great power and glory. He will come to restore completely. The tension, angst, and anticipation will dissolve for those found in Him...

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

He has come, and He will come again.
This is Christmas.