Advent::Almost

Yesterday after church, our beautiful congregation of different languages and means and histories and dreams gathered in the fellowship hall for the annual festival of the "Hanging of the Greens." We ate chili and cinnamon rolls to fortify us for the task of hanging wreaths and assembling trees and stringing lights and placing ornaments on evergreen branches.

We've struggled. This congregation has seen its share of fighting and hurt feelings and disappointments and hopelessness. Sometimes it feels as though we are hanging on by a thread. Personalities bump into one another, threatening to shatter any semblance of community. People have given up and left for other fellowships, leaving gaping holes in our community of faith. And it has taken its toll. But lately, we have been experiencing a lightness and a hopefulness. A supernaturally divine presence, encouraging - even gently shoving - us to continue limping forward.

Yesterday I washed the dishes and listened as people came to me, sharing stories of God showing up in their lives. Miracles, to be sure. I washed dishes and heard laughter and teamwork, in spite of language barriers and awkward relationships. And I felt in my heart what we were doing with our hands and our feet. I felt the clearing of the way in anticipation of the arrival of a child born in a manger so many years ago. I felt the preparation for the visitation of the One who loved us first and most of all.

Advent begins next Sunday. It marks the season of anticipation, leading up to Christmas, and stretching out the word, advent marks the beginning of a grand and miraculous adventure. Following on the heels of Thanksgiving here in the US, the season of advent is a time of hopefulness. Advent marks the end of things as they used to be, and anticipates something totally new. Advent is almost here. Some faith traditions have a saying that goes like this: "I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." That's advent!

The healing laughter and teamwork and accounts of miraculous incidents that I witnessed yesterday signal the start of something new for us. Small, green shoots of life emerging from soil packed hard and dry. Tap roots reaching down deep for drops of living water. Hard hearts melting under the warmth of faith. Even when I'm faithless, He remains faithful. He's good like that. I pray that you feel it, too. Hope and anticipation. Preparation for a grand adventure. Advent is almost here.

I'm looking forward to hearing all about your experience with the OATH. Whether it went the way you had hoped or not, I'd love to hear your story. I'll have MckLinky up and ready to go at midnight tonight (Central Time). Get your post ready and come back tomorrow to link up here, and to read the stories that others have to share. I'll see you back here tomorrow. Same time, same place.

Photo taken at the Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara, CA.