With the start of Advent, the Church calendar turns to a new year- after six months of Ordinary Time, so happy new year!

I’m grateful for the return to Advent. I began publishing here last Advent, so not only does the Church begin a new year but also, I begin a new year here. I can’t wait to see where God guides this journey.

Blessedly, I think my last reflection suggests an initial direction. In that reflection, I considered that the lesson of Ordinary Time was to go with God through the endings into the beginnings. Well, that seems like an excellent idea. I mean: An ending just passed as a beginning starts now – which just might imply a perfect opportunity to practice this lesson on my part. [You can read my previous reflection – here.

However, another idea might be better; there are, of course, any number of options. First, I could begin the year with a dive into Advent. Then, I could see where God leads through the course of my travels with Him on my sanctification journey this year. Although, my style doesn’t tend toward a start without a destination. Where’s the fun in not starting toward one place before enjoying all the delightfully distracting side trails on my way?

Although – perhaps, these two ideas are not mutually exclusive? I could simply explore going with God into Advent and see if that idea solidifies from reflecting on Advent. Now, that appears to be a connection between two ideas, and I’m a big fan of those. As a result, I’m going to dive into an Advent exploration on my sanctification journey, and we’ll see where I end up by God’s grace.

Now, this decision intrigues me, because of the nature of Advent. Advent focuses on waiting. Here, I had an idea about a destination for my sanctification journey, but I decided to wait on a dive into Advent. Fascinating how things come together, right?

Let me use this first stop on my going with God for a confession: I have no idea how to wait with God. Almost twenty Advents have passed since I became aware of Advent. I’ve heard all the readings about people waiting for the Messiah and heard them multiple times. [In fact, here’s a link to the common lectionary: https://www.lectionarypage.net/. You can click the link and read the readings from Sundays. These readings are my “Faithful Connection” this month.] Still, I have no insight into the matter.

Also, dozens of Advent wreaths have come and gone while my understanding remains dimmer than any one candle from any single wreath. I, even, lingered in Bible studies on Advent stories without any ember of an idea.

Sincerely, I credit my prejudice against waiting as the primary culprit for my failure so far. Waiting, in my mind, is merely a task to be endured until I can move from it. I search for ways to speed up the process and accept every possible hint for skipping the line altogether. In other words, how can I wait with God when I’d rather be anywhere other than waiting?

Step number one toward an answer brings another confession: There’s a lot of “I” in that previous paragraph. With such a focus on “I,” God’s reality is ignored. His reality is this: He is with me on my sanctification journey. [Even better news: If my Lord will lower Himself to be with me, He does the same for you.] After all, the revelation of that reality is the purpose of the Advent readings. God blesses my Advent waiting through Scripture with lessons for waiting on my sanctification journey. God comforts those waiting for the Messiah with His promises; He provides for their waiting with a path toward His fulfillment, and He guides every step of the way. He’s right there with the grace to wait, if I’m willing to accept it. So, step number one for waiting with God is this: God is with me before I wait, so I need to acknowledge that presence which might make me open to those graces.

Picture from Ordinary Life

Well, that’s great. Those blessings of God’s presence are in the Bible, but how does that affect my waiting in Advent and beyond on my sanctification journey?

As I wrote that question, I thought of my wife, Jessica, as she waits to give presents to our children on Christmas Day. The waiting to give a gift tortures Jessica. She has a brilliant mind for gift ideas, so her inability to give the wonderful thing is a trial. Jessica desires for the other to have the thing right now. As a result, I worry every year that our daughters will find a way to con their presents from Jessica before full time.

However, Jessica leads music at our church, and Advent is a busy time of the year. There are lots of services to plan, musicians to schedule, and moments of participation in those services. The calendar days flash past amid all those service opportunities. Then, in addition, there’s all the decorating, cooking, and other social engagements of the season. The busy-ness of the season prevents many an opportunity for an early report about the gifts under the tree.

Also, the kids have a schedule of their own this time of year, so their chances for plotting an early gift are diminished. They practice for the Christmas play, make crafts for family members, and help with decorating. Then, they wind up busy as well which speeds the passing of calendar days until the big reveal.

Huh, would you look at that? I see here an eager gift giver who promises a gift at the right time to those who have zero patience to wait. Plus, these two must go with one another through the whole waiting period. And – they can only go together because the gift-giver is first with them.

A Path Forward

At this point, I imagine two things. First, I’ve found a marvelous reminder of God’s presence in the waiting on my sanctification journey from my ordinary life. Second, another idea arises for the new year.

This idea states: I can only go with God because He is with me. Now, that’s an enchantingly complex yet simple idea – I like it. As I consider it, the whole Church calendar rolls out before me like a map, as it is intended to be for my sanctification journey. Also, as a sidenote, this looks more like the idea for an exploration, not a specific destination. Hmm.

In a comical move after all that, I now must wait to see where God guides with that idea.

Story Time

While I wait, I’d like to share a story. Most of this reflection focused on the second part of my new idea: “Because God is with me.” So, what about the first part? Well, going with God in waiting is like Marietta and Vincent, who must wait to receive a saving light for their home village. Click the link below to find out what happens to Marietta and Vincent.

Advent’s Story: Marietta and Vincent’s Tale