Ready and Waiting

Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Dear Friends in Christ -

In the midst of our preparations for Christmas, the question that Jesus asks his disciples - and us - is whether we're ready for his SECOND coming. The way to get ready for that, Jesus says, is to "Stand up and raise your heads." In the midst of the scurrying preparations for Christmas, most of us are in a posture that's more head-down-shoulder-to-the wheel. Even, and especially, in the midst of it all, Jesus calls us to stop, stand still, and look up.

Advent is a season for attentive waiting. During the whole season of Advent, the baby Jesus doesn't come. We decorate, and he doesn't come yet. We bake, and he doesn't come yet. We make calls and send cards, and he doesn't come yet. The purpose of all this waiting is NOT to torture children (or adults!), but to give us time to ready our hearts for a mind-blowing, reality-transforming miracle.

This year, my goal is to be ready for that. Oh, I'll wrap some packages and host some parties and all that, but my number one agenda item every day is going to be to take a little time to be still. To wait.

Following is the beautiful little poem that I used in my sermon today, which holds precious inspiration for me in my waiting.

Faithfully,
Janet+

Kneeling -- by R. S. Thomas

Moments of great calm,
Kneeling before an altar
Of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God
To speak; the air a staircase
For silence; the sun’s light
Ringing me, as though I acted
A great rôle. And the audiences
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.
Prompt me, God;
But not yet. When I speak,
Though it be you who speak
Through me, something is lost.
The meaning is in the waiting.

R. S. Thomas, “Kneeling” from Not That He Brought Flowers. Copyright © 1968 by R. S. Thomas.
Source: Collected Poems 1945-1990 (1993)