I am part of a liturgical church. We organize our years into liturgical seasons. A new season called Advent, the first season of a new year, begins this weekend.
The season of Advent is a lot more exciting than most people realize. The word “Advent” comes from the same Middle English, Old French, and Latin roots as “adventure.” Advent and adventure describe something being about to happen, about to arrive. Our season of Advent is a time of anticipation and getting ready.
Some of us spend Advent anticipating the new birth of deep spiritual life. Other people anticipate the fresh, clean slate a new year. Many of us spend the lengthening nights of winter anticipating returning light. We may spend Advent getting ready for the return of warm weather.
The seeds of all we anticipate have already been sown and are growing during Advent. We are not able to see seeds sending shoots outward and upward under the ground. It is important that we do not give up hope, that we continue to anticipate. Each year we celebrate our renewed anticipation in Advent.
Each day is a new adventure. When we listen, we recognize what is about to happen. As we open ourselves to the possibilities, we begin to see what is about to arrive.
We do not need to wait for our next adventure, straining to see what is on the horizon. Spiritual life floods our everyday lives, arriving and revealing itself in new ways.
Our adventuring, our Advent, is not limited to certain months, certain times of year. Each day sends out shoots of its own.
We remember and celebrate the seeds growing under the ground.
How do we anticipate something happening today?
What adventure is about to arrive in our lives this week?
[Image by Au Kirk]
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