Advent is Finding the Time

I belong to a liturgical church. The first season of our liturgical year is called Advent.

Advent is a season of anticipation and preparation. Advent is about finding the Sacred in the Everyday.

One of the great challenges of Advent is finding the time to anticipate, prepare, and celebrate the deep sacredness all around us.

Advent is countercultural. Advent calls our attention to reflection at exactly the time everyone is rushing headlong into the “holidays,” the time when profit margins are made or broken, when years are completed, when we focus on succeeding or failing.

Advent urges us to find the time just when we feel there is no time to be found.

We may feel like giving up, allowing the shopping and the stress to carry us away. We may be tempted to resolve to do better next year.

Advent reminds us that it is important to find time today. The moments of each week, each day, each hour are filled with deep sacredness. If we do not find time now, they will be gone and we will miss opportunities.

Advent reminds us what really matters. Advent reminds us to stop and breathe, to appreciate the present moment.

Advent reminds us that it is the deeper sacred meaning that makes the holidays, the work, the other things important.

Our Advent stories are about people who find time to breathe. They find time to listen to themselves, to other people, to the world, to the Sacred all around them. They find time to recognize the sacredness that fills their lives.

Advent reminds that even now, when we feel we are at our busiest, we can find time.

How will you find time today?

When do you pause and breathe in the deep sacredness?

[Image by Judit Klein]