Advent Week One: Hope

Advent Candles - Week One

The season of Advent is here and for that I am grateful. In the church the season of Advent is the four weeks before Christmas, before we celebrate the birth of Jesus. And in this season we get to wait. We are given permission to take a big breathe, sit and wait. To slow down and live in the in-between place. The place where we don't rush around with the rest of the society. The place where we don't get ahead of ourselves in celebration. 

We are filled with expectant waiting, like Mary waited for the birth of her babe. And hopeful anticipation because we know the celebration time will come.

For me Advent falls at the time when my academic schedule slows down. I take the time to rest, to relax, to pray, to be present with God. And I hold on to this time of waiting, this time when I don't have to get lost of the busyness of every day. 

A good friend of mine posted on Facebook that her Advent Mantra is going to be: "Slow is faster. Less is more." Wise words I think... I just might be borrowing them over these coming weeks. 

Take the time to slow down, to open you eyes, and listen to the Spirit's voice this Advent season.