Monday, November 29, 2004

Advent begins

I think it is safe to say that our theology does not provide for spinning in the grave. I hear that phrase a lot -- so-and-so must be spinning in her (or his) grave. No, probably not. Indignations don't carry on beyond this life.

Our theology also tells us to wait.

If there is any meaning left in the Christmas holidays, any sentiment or hopeful thought that has not been appropriated by the commerical powers that be, it is meanings that are not about selling items or providing us with some kind of fake attitude.

I always knew that the day after Thanksgiving was a big day for shopping, something I usually ignore. But now it is a designated day. The news chatters called it Black Friday. Forget about our day of thanksgiving. It's more exciting to talk about sales records. More crowds. Anxious people. They went. They spent.

But Sunday was Advent One, the time to pause and reflect, to be quiet, to recognize our need to be awakened, to stir us up out of our slumber. No need yet for decorations. Certainly there is no need for Coke machinated moments with an illustrator's picture of Santa Claus and all the stale old music used to pitch items for sell. We wait.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Advent is seriously undervalued in our culture. Everyone refers to this time as the Christmas season. But the Christmas season is Dec 25th to Jan 6th. This is Advent. Looking toward the event. Getting reading. Anticipation.

It's hard to appreciate something unless one spends some time longing for it.

M. Sinclair Stevens
Zanthan Gardens

Don said...

Amen.

I am particularly allergic to the phony holiday giddiness of shaving and cola commericals.

We want our joy -- and we want it now. It's as if our culture is demanding an artificial joy.