Advent

Advent.

 

From the Latin adventus, meaning 'arrival'.  From ad- 'to' + venire 'come'.

 

It means waiting for something or someone notable or important to arrive or to come.  It means looking forward with excitement and anticipation and joy. 

 

It means more than 24 little chocolates and a countdown to lots of presents and an incredibly large meal.

 

It's a  time when we look forward to Christmas day and look back to the first Christmas.  It's a time when we remind ourselves of how God stepped down into our world and lived amongst us.  It's a time when we remember the coming of Christ as a humble, vulnerable baby who was prepared to live and die for us.

 

Opening the doors of an advent calendar to get at the chocolates is always a nice way to start the day in December.  But it's also a reminder to us that Jesus came to ask us to open the door of our hearts to Him and to let Him in to our lives:

“Look!  I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

 

[Revelation 3:20 NLT]

 

Jesus longs to be part of our lives.  Not as a judgemental kill-joy, but as a friend.

 

Each day of Advent, as we open another little door on our calendars, let's remind ourselves of the real purpose of our countdown, and to whom we are opening our hearts.