How Advent Found Me

I thought this Advent season would pass by me without a backward glance.  I thought it would skirt around the edges of my subconscious without ever really settling in.  I expected Christmas to arrive with a suddenness that would surprise me. 

We are moving house in the middle of the season – packing up, moving and settling in.  Surely the “season of waiting” would simply have to wait!

Yet it appears that advent is arriving fully without any attention or effort on my part. 

First, the invitation to meditate at 6 AM on Advent Friday mornings in Fort Langley -  only a few minutes from home by someone even busier than me.  “Yes,” I said.

Then, the invitation to attend the church advent retreat, on a night when the rest of my family had other plans and driving duties were early and late.   “Yes,” I said. 

A Saturday retreat with the “Shared Faith and Life” group; a day filled with Christian community and Advent reflection.  A “Yes” that began in December last year. 

We celebrated my son’s Confirmation service on Sunday morning.  I watched him say “yes” and renewed my own baptismal covenant.

Last weekend, I had much more “Advent time” than in any other year ever.  And perhaps this makes sense.  The themes of advent are echoed in my life this year.  I am travelling and saying “yes” – a little bit like the Holy Family so long ago.

Advent is finding me!