Advent 2013 Week 1: HOPE

ADVENT

I love the season of advent.  It takes me back to my childhood.  Each week at church a family would read a scripture, share the theme of the week and light the candle.  What a thrill to be chosen to handle fire in church!

15 years ago we were living in Azerbaijan, working with World Hope.  Emma was just a baby; Kayli and Dillon were 4 and 5 years old.  I wanted to continue our advent wreath tradition, but there weren’t any convenient supplies to be found.  Under the cover of night, I went out with my trusty kitchen scissors to cut off small branches of pine trees and holly in the neighborhood to make our wreath.  I am committed to the advent wreath tradition!

I used to think that Advent meant remembering because it held such a sentimental place in my heart.  It is kind of like communion, but not in that way.  It’s a time of waiting.  Of expectation.  Both communion and advent look forward to the return of Christ. 

I’ve challenged myself to write a little reflection on each of the themes of Advent this year.  There are different traditions in the themes and the order in which they are celebrated.  I’m using the official Wesleyan Church order because, well, that’s my tradition: Hope, Faith, Love, Joy.

The First Week of Advent:  HOPE

December 1, 2013

My class at Taylor University buried a time capsule just before graduation to be opened at our 25^th reunion, which took place this fall.  I received my envelope last week.  I remember feeling so strange about writing a note to my future self.  So much was unknown for me.  Dave and I had been dating for three years and were heading on a missions trip to Central America for 6 weeks, then I had internship plans at a law firm that fall.  I had only mapped out about 6 months of my life, much less 25 years!  My letter is boring and bland.  I continue to be terrible at dreaming to this day. 

Dave also wrote me a letter, and skirted around the issue of our future relationship. He was a year younger than me, not quite ready to make a lasting marriage commitment.    He wished me good health and general pleasantries.  He closed the letter with a list of his favorite things including: 

• Tony Campolo
• The Sound of Music
• Riding bikes
• U2
• Taylor University
• The book of Acts – Do we live like true disciples?

It reminded me of so many of the reasons I fell in love with him. 

Then he scribbled this on the back:

But, I plan to marry you in about a year and a half.  I hope you bear my children and we live happily together.  (Don’t be mad if we don’t)

Dave had an optimistic hope with a side of caution.  He couldn’t control the whole situation.  I was the wildcard.  His hopes did come true, however, and it only took one year.

The best part of our hope in God is that we can count on all that He has promised.  The object of our hope is secure.  We can be confident that when our hopes are aligned with God’s word, they will be fulfilled.  When we grow in our understanding of who God is, and who we are in His sight, we see how He gives us positivity for the future.  We aren’t waiting for Christmas hoping in the way we hope for good weather or that our favorite team wins a big game.

As we wait for Christmas this year, let us align our thoughts, motives and hearts to all that God wants to do in our lives and communities.  We hope for His transforming power in our lives to shape us and use us for His good in this world.

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.