Isaiah 9: 2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
Surprise! My high
school friend Randy Hunter, most usually with a camera in possession, took a
photo of me while in high school. It shows me in a state of surprise. Also,
perhaps, as is my custom yet today, I was raising my eyebrows, wide-eyed, so as
to silently say “yes?’ in response to his attempt to get my attention.
As Advent, the
beginning of a new Christian year happens this coming Sunday, I hope to get
your attention. Surprise…Christ is coming!
The word “advent” is a joining of two Latin words “venie”,
which can be translated as “coming”, and “ad” which is “to”. Christ is coming
to us.
Whether we look at
it from the perspective of a second coming or as a prelude to Christmas, we
have something to look forward to.
We have a surprise
to which we may give our attention.
Let us allow ourselves to be surprised by the
depth of Christ’s love for us. For it reaches deeper than previously known.
Of course, let us attend to our shopping, decorating of
trees, and wrapping of gifts.
But also, like kids in high school, let us also be surprised
during this season of Advent. Let our spirits be taken to places we never
anticipated.
Allow this season to amaze us, raise our eye-brows, and widen
our eyes as we discover new depths of Christ’s love.
