Longing for Advent
I am looking forward to this coming season of Advent. It sounds a bit odd, if not redundant, to say that I am literally looking forward to a season of looking forward, a season of waiting and expectation. But while I look forward to Christmas itself – the fulfillment of the Advent season – I also can’t wait to dwell in the season God has given us to wait and expect and trust His promises. Ever since I spent a missions year abroad, Christmas has taken on a deeper meaning in my life. Growing up, I took the Christmas “things” for granted – crisp cold weather and snow, time with family and friends, a hot cup of warm cocoa after a day spent outside, brightly lit Christmas trees and red ornaments, the smells of cinnamon and pie baking… Christmas and the “Christmas season” for me was about the warm fuzzies it brought with it. Living overseas, those things were stripped away. Christmas season in Ivory Coast was the hottest season of the year, many days reaching farther past 100° than I...
