There are two kinds of waiting:

First there’s the waiting for things we know are going to happen - like snowfall, death, and the fact that I will be hungry at 6pm tonight.

Then there’s the waiting for things that might happen – like a Tigers World Series crown, a turnaround in the plight of Detroit, and winning the Powerball jackpot.

For the things in the first category, we prepare: we buy snow shovels, make wills, and put food in the refrigerator.

For the things in the second category, not so much.

Sure, we’ll cheer on the Tigers, hope for a Motown comeback, and fantasize about spending our lottery winnings. It’s because these are things that might happen, but I’m not banking on it.

Advent’s job is to remind us that faith in God always goes in that first category.

Sure, it sounds mad. Can we really count on a God we can’t see to do things we can’t imagine? How can there possibly be a happy ending to the tragedies around us? What kinds of order can be made from the randomness that permeates our days? And so we keep our faith at arm’s length, hoping more than believing.

Which is why Advent’s job is to help us believe more than hope.

When we think about it, the Christian faith does make some sense to us – otherwise we would not pray as we do, belong to a faith community, or have read this far. In our heart of hearts we suspect that this Jesus thing is true. And Advent is calling us to believe it really is.

Can we really believe that amidst the turmoil around us, God is up to something? Can we really believe that there is some sort of divine plan being played out in the universe? Can we really believe that God will take care of us?

Advent says yes, start planning on it.

-----------------------

Reading

The Post-Black and Post-White Church – Efrem Smith

Rome and Jerusalem – Martin Goodman

Parting the Waters – Taylor Branch