The Journey Through Advent – The Way of Preparation
“Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. Advent is a winter training camp for those that desire peace. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place.” Edward Hays
This year the season of Advent, begins on Sunday 1st December.
It is a time of preparation as we wait in anticipation for the King to come. It is time, not only to prepare and look forward to the birth of Jesus, but also a time of anticipation, as we acknowledge that the day will come when Jesus once again returns to earth.
In Isaiah 40:3-5, in The Message translation we read: “Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it.”
During Advent we, “seek to prepare the way for the Lord to come right to the centre of our lives. Every valley and pothole should be filled in, every mountain and hill level and every obstacle removed. The mountains are the wrong things we do, and the pot-holes are the good things we fail to do.” Northumbria Community.
So in the midst of the hurry and haste of everyday life and as you begin to make preparations to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, what can you do to mark the season of Advent? And how can your spiritual practice help you, to prepare to enter into the wonder and joy of the birth of Jesus?
Reflect
I suggest that you begin by reflecting on how you have journeyed through this season in the past.
- What have you enjoyed, and appreciated about Advent?
- How have you used this time devotionally, to prepare for Christmas?
- What have you found difficult?
- How have you encountered God during this season?
- How has he broken into your busyness and routines, during Advent, to show you fresh signs of his love and forgiveness?
You may like to make a note of your responses in your journal.
In the light of your responses about previous seasons of Advent, how would you like to mark the season this year and what strategies/activities can you put in place to achieve these?
Resources
There are so many Advent resources to help us journey through this season, but here are three that I have found really helpful.
- Each year Brian Draper writes an email series and invites subscribers to join him ‘Live at 5’ on Fridays on YouTube.
This Advent the series is entitled ‘Inside of Love’.
- Currently Urban Abbey, a 24-7 prayer community here in Nottingham, are offering short daily times of stillness and contemplation on their YouTube channel. These accompany ’40 Days of Advent Embracing God’s ways of Intimacy Generosity and Compassion’, by Mike Davies OMS. They are following Celtic Advent which has already started!
- ‘Honest Advent’ by Scott Erickson, offers 25 Readings for Advent and Christmas. “Through powerful imagery, contemplative questions, and honest prayers, you will discover that the wonder of God-with-us is still happening today – in your unexpected change of plans, your unaccomplished dreams, your humble new beginnings.”
Get Ready!
Take some time to be still and lay out your proposed Advent activities/actions/strategies/ideas, before God and listen for his perspective on them. Then gather the resources you require and be ready to start, when Advent commences!
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