The Promise of Advent
The Promise of Advent: 15 December 2019
Mark has been in pain for two and a half years. On Friday, his wonderful doctor performed the long-awaited knee replacement surgery. As per instruction, he removed his wedding ring.
Friday night I picked it up off the bedside table and studied it. I hadn’t held it since I gave it to him, almost 18 years ago. I was surprised at how heavy it is, and how beat up. Our bands had a beautiful etched flower and leaf design. I remember when mine was new there was a small bump, an irregularity, that I would rub with my thumb absentmindedly. That bump is worn down, as is a lot of the design. His ring is almost smooth in parts, except for the dings and dents from being worn by an active man. I was also surprised how big the ring is. I’m so used to us being equals that I don’t really notice that he’s a solid six inches taller with the hands of an athlete. My ring can pass through his.
On Friday, in the hospital with a bunch of other people waiting through their loved one’s surgery, I felt that odd mix of anxiety and boredom that accompanies an extended wait. For us, at least, everything went according to plan. He was buoyant and ready to get out of bed moments after arriving in his hospital room. Friday night a nurse came in to find him doing pushups on the floor and said, “what are you doing?!” He said he’d missed his workout because of the early surgery. Now Sunday, the pain has caught up to him and he’s a little groggy with the medicine. But we’re so glad he’s on the recovery side of the surgery.
It’s always a little tricky to figure out how to prepare yourself for the unknown. If you’re led by fear then you might find yourself stockpiling food or medicine, assuming Armageddon. It’s not bad to be prepared. That’s the Scout Motto after all. But since helping Emma memorize it on Monday, I’ve been thinking more about the Scout Law. A scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. A daily practice of these things prepares you to face adversity. But even more so, this practice prepares your character. Waiting tests my character more than adversity. It’s so much easier to be active, even if the action is wrong.
Advent is the Christian season of expectant waiting. It is preparing to receive a gift you didn’t know you wanted or needed. Preparing to become your best self while not rushing to force that self into being. It is surrendering to God’s time. Not surrender of all agency—you’re still responsible for being ready to ask how high when you hear God say jump! Or, maybe, to respond Send me! But we mortals are not generally good at waiting.
There are Advent resources to help us mark the waiting. When I unpacked our Christmas decorations this year, I realized we’ve accumulated seven activities intended for daily use. I don’t know about you, but seven extra daily tasks during a busy season does not result in ‘all is calm, all is bright’. I decided we could manage four.
My favorite one is the felt Advent calendar with 25 pockets that hold members of the Nativity cast. It’s extra special because our dear friend, Sallie, gave it to us. I hang it near the breakfast room table, which sports an Advent wreath with four candles lit as the weeks progress—Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. In the middle of the wreath squats a fancy Mason jar that holds our gratitude sticks. It works like this.
One child picks a character out of that day’s pocket and Velcros it on the manger scene. The other child picks out a popsicle stick and announces the thing we’re especially grateful for that day. The stick goes in the newly empty calendar pocket. It minimizes sibling rivalry if each child has a daily task. For fairness, they alternate; but beginning at Thanksgiving each vies to be the one to pick the star out of the first pocket because that child will also get to pick baby Jesus out of pocket 25. They’ve grown savvy—or maybe mature--that way.
And isn’t that one of the main lessons of Advent? The humility in realizing that even in our practice of waiting and our preparation to be selfless disciples, we’re still looking out for number One.
I was thinking about this last week while I re-read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As the United Nations website explains, it is, “a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.”
1948. 71 years ago. In the aftermath of World War II, representatives from all nations agreed that, “disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind.”
The preamble begins with the recognition that “the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” And the Declaration proclaims that the highest aspiration of all nations and peoples is “the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want.”
Our highest aspiration is the advent of that world. For Christians, that world is exemplified in the birth of a humble baby. Born to young, immigrant parents in a foreign land. Heralded to outlandish, uncouth, dirty shepherds. Worshipped by sages open to signs of mystery and true power. A friend to tax-collectors, lepers, the demon-possessed and even women. Feared, hunted, despised and murdered by the people threatened by his power. Killed, but not defeated. Jesus embodied and proclaimed a God of abundance who promises freedom from fear and want. For all people. In all times. Everywhere.
He calls us to follow him, to create the Beloved Community, to be God’s hands and feet in this broken and hurting world.
God’s promise is stronger than death. It is worth waiting for. Worth fighting for. It is a gift and a burden to surrender to that promise. A promise worn, like a wedding ring.
