Advent as Sabbath.

I hope to experience the Advent season as a shining, quiet, open, and expectant time of wonder and joy.  In Advent, we consciously and intentionally make room for the coming of Christ into our lives.  We do this by divesting ourselves of the clutter, the detritus, the non-essential, the superficial, the busy, and the exhausted.  We are making an open space into which the Lord may emerge with, within, and among us.    

Maybe Advent is a kind of Sabbath: a time liberated from the demands of the economy and productivity; a time dedicated to God’s transcendent peace/shalom.

A time anticipating the End of time, the fullness of time into which the Lord Jesus comes.

Instead of a hectic, over-scheduled, frantic, exhausting time, how can we use Advent as an opportunity to clear our schedules.  Slow life down.  Pay attention.  Look, listen, watch, feel.  Go deep.  Simplify.  Enjoy.  Give thanks.     

Marie Kondo talks about doing an inventory of our possessions.  When evaluating something, she advises giving thanks for it…  and then letting it go.  If something does not give us joy, we should let it go.

What if we didn’t do anything this season that did not bring us joy?  

What if we undertake to see that whatever we do take on this season does bring us joy?

Not a superficial sugar-high of satisfying every craving… 

Not the usual addiction to consumption… 

but joy:

An inner contentment and peace.

I am reading about “Swedish death-cleaning”.  In Sweden, this is something older people do, to make life easier for those left behind when they leave the planet.  It is about preparing for the end.  Losing our baggage.

In Advent we are preparing for the End of the World: Jesus Christ.

He is the world’s end, goal, purpose, meaning.

So:

What can we lose?

What can we give away?

What can we share?

• Old clothes?
• Junk from the junk drawers?
• Excess books?
• Other stuff we will never use again?

What if we used Advent to do a thorough house-cleaning? 

What can we let go of? 

• anger
• fear
• resentment
• negativity
• bitterness
• criticism
• judgment and condemnation
• greed

What if we took a break from the news, or from social media?

What if we tried not to use the car?

What can we not consume?

What if we didn’t even require someone work for us, cater to us, serve us?

Or made a point to recognize and appreciate and thank those who do!

Who collects our trash and recycling?

Who delivers our mail, newspapers, and packages?

Who works for water, sewage, utility, and cable companies?

Who serves our food? 

Who pumps our gas?

Who repairs roads and works in our yards?

Who educates or cares for our children?

Who works in retail?

What if we devoted more time to serving others?

How can we be open to the spiritual meaning of mundane and boring practices like, well, raking leaves?

And if Advent is about receiving Jesus Christ,

how does that happen?

If he is the One we are making room for,

what does that mean?

He is the One who comes

when we make room for him.

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