Waiting Between Advents

It's not long before the presents are opened, the decorations stored away, and the holiday movies shelved that the countdown toward next Christmas begins. And then where does that leave us?

Waiting, between Advents.

Yes, waiting between Christmas 2011 and Christmas 2012 but may I suggest we are waiting between the First Advent, (which has come) and the Second Advent, (which has yet to be)? This is our present, our now--this waiting for Christ's return, the Second Advent.

So, what do we do while we await Advent II? Much the same as those found waiting for Advent I...and more.

We wait together, with eyes wide open, looking beyond our circumstances with faith, knowing God is faithful to do what he promised.

We wait with an open heart-womb, ready to accept God's salvation gift through Christ, to fall in love with Him--empty of self and full of Jesus.

We wait with repentant hearts, crying out in the wilderness for God to save, and His Spirit to fill and empower so that others might know Him--might be drawn to wait with us as we offer nothing but Christ in us, the hope of glory.

I don't know, maybe we've grown comfortable where we are--this side of eternity--living between these two Advents. Or maybe life is loud, distracting us from thinking beyond the now. Maybe we don't want to be lumped amongst the radical, far-out apocalyptic schools of thought or maybe we're just plain ignorant of eternity--whatever the reason, we can't ignore the angels words to his disciples after Jesus' ascension:

Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

So, when you're house is back in order and the calendar reads January 1, 2012, what will you be found waiting for?