advent(ure)
It is no accident that we celebrate Christmas on the heels of the winter solstice. You have already probably noticed the daylight hours growing shorter, and the nights growing longer as we make our annual journey around the sun on our tilted earth axis. Or, maybe you have not noticed. We modern people spend a lot of time in artificial environments that make it possible to forget it is dark outside as we go about life with the lights on inside. Our ancestors, of course, didn't have that luxury; they have handed down a tradition that can help us to notice the seasonal changes of daylight hours.
The Advent Wreath is a simple circle of greens with four candles set in the wreath. On the first Sunday of December, Christians around the world will light the first candle on the wreath to mark the first week of Advent. Each week another candle is lit until December 23, when the final candle is lit and we have almost arrived at Christmas to celebrate the coming of Christ, our light, into the world.
Practices like lighting the Advent Wreath are now counter cultural. They go against the cultural value of instant gratification. Our cultural value of instant gratification would suggest that if we want Christmas, we should get it now, and "What's taking so long?" The simple practice of lighting one candle, then two, then three, and only then the fourth, helps to slow us down to a more human, natural pace. It helps us to notice and get a sense of the journey or the Advent-ure before we arrive where we are headed.
When our tilted planet finally brings us around our orbit to Christmas, we celebrate the coming of God's light into the world in Jesus. Then of course, the daylight hours begin to lengthen once again. It is no accident that we celebrate Christmas on the heels of the winter solstice.
So, if you have not noticed, go outside and get away from artificial light to notice the beautiful, long night. Maybe even turn off some lights inside and sit by a candle for a few minutes. Give yourself the counter-cultural gift of sitting by a candle or four, and wait. We will arrive soon enough, so experience the adventure now and notice the changing light in this blessed season of Advent.
*originally published in the Port Aransas South Jetty http://www.portasouthjetty.com/current/Island_Life
The Advent Wreath is a simple circle of greens with four candles set in the wreath. On the first Sunday of December, Christians around the world will light the first candle on the wreath to mark the first week of Advent. Each week another candle is lit until December 23, when the final candle is lit and we have almost arrived at Christmas to celebrate the coming of Christ, our light, into the world.
Practices like lighting the Advent Wreath are now counter cultural. They go against the cultural value of instant gratification. Our cultural value of instant gratification would suggest that if we want Christmas, we should get it now, and "What's taking so long?" The simple practice of lighting one candle, then two, then three, and only then the fourth, helps to slow us down to a more human, natural pace. It helps us to notice and get a sense of the journey or the Advent-ure before we arrive where we are headed.
When our tilted planet finally brings us around our orbit to Christmas, we celebrate the coming of God's light into the world in Jesus. Then of course, the daylight hours begin to lengthen once again. It is no accident that we celebrate Christmas on the heels of the winter solstice.
So, if you have not noticed, go outside and get away from artificial light to notice the beautiful, long night. Maybe even turn off some lights inside and sit by a candle for a few minutes. Give yourself the counter-cultural gift of sitting by a candle or four, and wait. We will arrive soon enough, so experience the adventure now and notice the changing light in this blessed season of Advent.
*originally published in the Port Aransas South Jetty http://www.portasouthjetty.com/current/Island_Life
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