Advent Daily #1

Starting today, I'm motivating myself to write a daily short thought, reflection, pondering on a particular word associated with this Advent season. I'm not going to think about it too much, edit, just pray, think and write and see what comes.  I'd love you to join me so feel free to comment or write your thoughts elsewhere on social media too to keep the conversation going.

Today's word: WATCH

In the ebb and flow of the year, the beginning of Advent and the beginning of December certainly has a 'starting gun' feel to it....it's permission giving for decorations to go up, detailed preparations to be made, conversations about 'what are you doing for Christmas' to happen more frequently. But in some ways, as disciples of Jesus, we're also having the starting gun fired on what could be and should be a transformative 25 days....it's a sombre time in some ways in the Church. A time when we look back and look forward. A time of both reflection and anticipation. It demands patience and the ability to watch, to focus, to participate. Not an easy task....


John Henry Newman wrote this:
We are not simply to believe, but to watch; not simply to love, but to watch; not simply to obey, but to watch; to watch for what?  For that great event, Christ's coming... 

At the moment, my kids are waiting and watching the letter box expectantly for the newest Slugs and Bugs Sing the Bible CD to pop through our door! Its a family favourite and I highly recommend it to you if you have school age children (pre-teens probably!) 

One of the songs on the first album perfectly sums up this watching being both active and passive....check out Be Dressed on this link with the words, which formed part of our Advent Carols service on Sunday night:

(Luke 12:35-36)
Be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
Like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet,
So that when he comes and knocks
They can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants
Whose master finds them watching when he comes.