a blog by Marilyn Karpinski
 | "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:36 |
Advent is all about being vigilant...waiting. I've never been good at waiting. I am an impulse shopper. The strategy of putting candy bars in the check-out lanes was developed just for people like me. A friend once said that I bought and sold two houses in the time it took him to make the decision to list his. Waiting has never been my strong suit. Yet I find when it comes to spiritual matters like Advent and Lent the waiting gives me time to ponder and prepare; to come to a fuller understanding of the true meaning of the season. It focuses my attention on the significance of the past and the hope of the future.
Waiting heightens the joy when the prize is attained. Our daughter and her family are extremely health conscious and snacks and fast food are not a part of their diet but exceptions are sometimes made for special occasions. Last Christmas, in preparation for our visit, our daughter Katy purchased a few unhealthy snacks. When her son Will came home from school and went to the pantry to select an after-school snack his shriek could be heard throughout the house: "Mama, there's a Christmas Miracle in our pantry!" He found the bag of cheddar and sour cream potato chips.
The Gospel reading above mentions being prepared to "stand before the Son of Man." The lyrics of a song entitled "I Can Only Imagine" poses the same question: "Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine."
While I can only imagine that day, I do know that I want to be as prepared as humanly possible. So I pray my waiting and preparing this Advent will produce a response as joyous as Will's when I discover the true Christmas Miracle, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Waiting heightens the joy when the prize is attained. Our daughter and her family are extremely health conscious and snacks and fast food are not a part of their diet but exceptions are sometimes made for special occasions. Last Christmas, in preparation for our visit, our daughter Katy purchased a few unhealthy snacks. When her son Will came home from school and went to the pantry to select an after-school snack his shriek could be heard throughout the house: "Mama, there's a Christmas Miracle in our pantry!" He found the bag of cheddar and sour cream potato chips.
The Gospel reading above mentions being prepared to "stand before the Son of Man." The lyrics of a song entitled "I Can Only Imagine" poses the same question: "Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine."
While I can only imagine that day, I do know that I want to be as prepared as humanly possible. So I pray my waiting and preparing this Advent will produce a response as joyous as Will's when I discover the true Christmas Miracle, the birth of Jesus Christ.
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