Someone Finally Said It.

Terry Mattingly, Director of the Wahington Journalism Center at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, wrote a bold article, which I hope is syndicated across the nation, about the disappearence of Advent (not to mention Christmas) in the current commercialized frenzy of this interim period between Thanksgiving and December 25th.  Christmas lights abound on houses already, Christmas carols play in the stores, and the noise of "holiday clatter" overpowers the silent waiting of the season, still called Advent (toward the Coming).  Isaiah offers consoling words and images about the eventual Reign of God, but they along, with the shouting calls to repentance of John the Baptist  cannot heard in the din of what should be "the quiet season of Advent", but what is now an unfocused, blurry mixture that is neither Adent nor Christmas.  He also deplores the "new" end-date of Christmas...December 25th itself!  How often do we see those early erected Christmas trees on the sidewalk on December 26th?  The Song, The Twelve Days of Christmas",  certainly has not meaning in the very segment of time for which it was intended.  Should we just "throw in the towel" and declare a victory for the department store and on-line magnates?  No.  Let us make a concerted effort to observe Advent as intended.  This prayer might help:  "Holy Abba God.We are an expectant people, always rushing to accomplish things, only to expereince time slipping through our fingers.  We expect things to improve, hoping that somehow we will not always put you - and our relationship with you - on the back burner of our lives.
For this reason we pause for a moment in prayer.  Be with us during this season of Advent.  Help us to come to an appreciation of "holy waiting".  As once your people long ago waited for their Savior to be born, help us to enter into the spirit of celebrating the growing awareness of your Word in our lives.  Let the power of your Word not be buried or forgotten because of the press of our other obligations.
The food that we share, the relationships that we celebrate, are all signs of your love.  Help us appreciate them and enjoy your presence in each of the people, the events, and the experiences that make up our lives.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Savior. Amen."  --(Thank you, Denise).
Bro.  Rene