Waiting with Hope

It will come when you least expect it.

How I hated that line! 

When you're waiting, hoping, praying...and when your life is focused on that one thing you're waiting for, hearing that it will come when you least expect it seems so silly. 

How could you ever least expect it? It's all you can think about.

As we hope for something, the expectation draws ever closer to us. 

And think of all the things we hope for in our lives. Most of them have a very definite date and time. Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:13

Both of my children, whose births I longed for, surprised me by proving that we really don't know the day or the hour. Babies have specific due dates, and mine was in July. Even when my water broke in May I didn't take a toothbrush with me to the hospital, and when the doctor told me I was having a baby 8 weeks early, I replied "No, I'm not." 

We thought we knew the plan. Keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour.

Years later we were adopting our son. The paperwork was complete. Everything was in place. I was getting anxious...and called to ask for a date and time. I like to plan. The answer devastated me: "It could be weeks. Don't call us; we'll call you when the time is near." 

The call came only two days later...and I was not expecting to hear it. Keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour.

Watching and waiting are hard. We want to be in control. We want answers today. 

When I was growing up I thought the longest day of the year was Christmas Eve. The presents were wrapped and under the tree, and my child's mind was focusing on the time that evening when the family would gather around that tree and finally open the presents. My brothers and sisters and I were intent on getting to that as quickly as possible. 

My mother had other plans. She knew the importance of watching and waiting...

In my family it was a tradition for the kids to put on a Christmas pageant after dinner (which we had the day to plan, produce and practice). There were costumes to be created, which took most of the dishtowels from the kitchen, but turned us into Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and an angel. If there was a baby in the family, it became Jesus. Later, my baby dolls took on that role. Depending on our ages we had piano, clarinet, viola, flute, trumpet, and even tubas performing. There were always many Christmas carols that would be played in just the right order to tell the Christmas story.

After our traditional lutefisk, meatballs, and lefse dinner (and the washing of every single plate) this Christmas pageant would take place, but it was always followed by one more reading of the Christmas story - passing the large book from hand-to-hand as everyone there took a turn reading.

My mom usually sat at the piano then, and we took out our family Christmas caroling books (yes, we were that family. We had our own caroling books!) and we began to sing one song after another until finally closing with Silent Night.

I find it amazing that when I look back I can remember little Timmy, dressed as Joseph while I was Mary. I can remember how beautifully my dad sang, and how much fun it was to sing every single verse in four part harmony. I remember the little ones just learning to read, enunciating every word so carefully, my mom helping pronounce "swaddling cloths" or "Quirinius". And I remember begging to sing just one more song, even though the presents remained unopened.

My mother knew how to fill the waiting time with activity. But she knew that this activity should point to the birth of Jesus and the true meaning of this holy night. She knew that we must wait with joy and anticipation.

The waiting of Advent is important. It prepares the way of the Lord. It fills us with hope. It is a time to be active; decorating, caroling, baking. But more than that, it is a time to look to the birth of Jesus and to prepare our hearts for His coming.

"Therefore keep watch, you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:13

Find us ready (Tom Booth)

Find us ready, Lord, not standing still.
Find us working and loving and doing your will.
Find us ready, Lord, faithful in love,
building the kingdom that’s here and above,
building the kingdom of mercy and love.

We must wait for the Lord
for we know not the time.
So here and today
we gather and pray,
discovering love in our midst.

We must make straight the path,
God’s love revealed.
With sin cast aside,
God’s mercy alive,
fear not for here is your God.

Lifting up those bowed down,
we prepare for our God.
Rejoice in the Lord,
for hope has been born
in hearts where our God finds a home.

Optional final ending
Brick by brick, stone by stone,
find us working and loving and doing your will.
Find us ready, Lord, faithful in love,
building the kingdom that’s here and above.