We've made Advent and Christmas a one dimensional season. However, the religious traditions that created this season of the church calendar and the scripture guiding us are anything but simple and one dimensional. Though we are faithful to complain about the over-commercialization of Christ's, we rarely follow up these complaints with new understanding as to what God is up to in this journey to and from Bethlehem.
Popular culture teaches us that these coming weeks are simply a time for decorating and shopping. Yet, as quickly as we shop and decorate, we throw away and put away. As quickly as we long to experience the cheer of the holiday we are just as quick to leave it all behind for another year.
We've heard this sermon before and yet we keep on doing what we always done hoping beyond all hopes that one year we will get what we have waited our whole lives for. And yet, year after year we experience disappointment that what we unwrap does not and will not fill the emptiness in our lives.
We have all the evidence we need that our one dimensional understanding of Christmas will never create a new reality.
So why is it that intelligent people like us keep preaching the same sermon and doing the same things year after year. How many seasons must we live before we find courage enough to trust what we say we believe.
Shopping and decorating have little to do with the story that unfolds in the manger....the same story that turns into the cross.....the same story that becomes our future. Christ will come again.
How will you spend your time this Advent?
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