From the Editor: Anticipation and loss
December 6, 2006
Kristin Fryer
Having spent the majority of my life in a non-liturgical church, I was delighted as I walked into church last Sunday morning and discovered that the walls had taken on a rich royal blue hue.
It was the First Sunday of Advent, and this was to be the first time I would celebrate this season of anticipation.
Advent comes from a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival.” The primary focus of this season is the first coming of Christ as a baby, and His second coming as King. Advent celebrates God’s breaking into human history through the incarnation, and anticipates the redemption for which all of creation groans.
I watched intently as the first of four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent, on the wreath was lit. As the congregation sang the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” I began to wonder, When was the last time I actually waited in anticipation for Christmas?
Growing up in snowy northern B.C., I would race downstairs every morning of December to eat the tiny piece of chocolate in my Christmas Calendar, counting the number of boxes left until the 25th. But as I grew older, the countdown became less about Christmas, and more about the holiday from school. Except in the sense of “no-more-pencils-no-more-books-no-more-teachers’-dirty-looks,” I stopped looking forward to Christmas a long time ago.
For the last ten years, Christmas has been a season that reminds me of what I have lost. Each year, in the weeks leading up to the holiday, I spend an excessive amount of time trying to coordinate my schedule so that I divide my time equally between my parents who are divorced. Eating two turkey dinners and opening two sets of presents may not seem all that bad—and it isn’t—but it has taken time to accept that I will never be able to celebrate Christmas with my entire family again.
This year, I was saddened to learn that over Christmas break TWU will experience the loss of one of its most beloved staff members, Nurse Rita Loewen. This will have a significant effect on the quality of wellness at TWU. She will be sorely missed and not easily replaced.
And so I find myself, once again, not looking forward to Christmas. (Bah humbug!)
But as I watched the flickering light of the Advent candle in church last Sunday, I was able to recognize what I have gained because of Christmas. First, I was reminded of the love that God demonstrated by becoming human and dwelling among us. And with my husband sitting in the pew next to me, I remembered that this Christmas I have gained a new family. This brings my total, not to two, but to five turkey dinners and present openings that I will experience this December.
It seemed perfectly appropriate that the first candle of Advent symbolizes hope.
To learn more about Advent, visit http://www.crivoice.org/cyadvent.html
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One Response to “From the Editor: Anticipation and loss”
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It was such a pleasant surprise to visit Mars Hill Online for the first time and find a meditation on Advent and from a member of my parish! It is a reminder that liturgy, colour, season, symbol, rhythm can speak to us deeply. It says that our existence is now re-oriented to the season of the birth. death and resurrection of Jesus, and it is in that cycle that existence makes sense.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
rev.d Craig Vance, Christ the Redeemer Anglican