An often quoted scripture passage is First Corinthians 13:13, “There are three things that last, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.” Yes – love endures forever, but how often do we just skip over “hope” without a second thought.

Waiting for the expected, no matter what it is, does not come easy for us.  We wait for the rain, and when it arrives, we want the sunshine.  We have the sunshine, and wonder if it will ever rain again.  Sometimes we ponder a memory and say, “Oh, if only I had appreciated it more when I had it.”  Perhaps the wisdom to gain from this experience is that NOW, while we wait, is also the time to appreciate what we do have.  As we approach the closing of Advent, what have you dreamed for during this time?  What have you needed?  What have you hoped would happen?

Fragile, beautiful, painful, messy, and oh so wondrous is the birth process!  Advent brings us back to the reality of God Incarnate – becoming one of us – that we might realize our heritage as children of God.  Four weeks to prepare for the birth of Jesus and all year to celebrate it!

Complacency has a way of sneaking up on us.  We don’t even realize it has taken root in our hearts until something wakes us up.  Such is the Status Quo:  “the existing state of affairs especially regarding social or political issues.”  (M. Webster).  Stunned by the opposite of our cherished values which seem to be parading under the guise of progress, we stare at situations we never thought we’d have to face. We’re tempted to run “helter-skelter” in fear or in anger, neither of which brings us vision.

Waiting is never easy whether it’s for your turn at the gas pump, the checkout counter, the post office, or the lab work results.  Reaching the “destination” or receiving knowledge of the results seems to give a sense of relief, a sense of “control” over the situation.

Placing her index finger over her lips, Darcy whispered to her son Alex, “Shhh, listen.” As he did so, he heard the soft, unmistakable call of the turtle dove. Contrast that with someone saying, “Shut up and listen!” Or, “Sit still, and stop wiggling!”