Beginning of Advent

'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church

our hope was dying — we'd given up on the search.

It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited,

but after 2,000-plus years we were no longer excited.

Oh, we knew what was coming — no doubt about that.

And that was the trouble — it was all "old hat."

November brought the first of an unending series of pains

with carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns.

There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys;

enough to seduce the most devout girls and boys.

Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt

from this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt.

The priests and prophets and certainly the kings

were all so consumed with the desire for "things!"

It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason

for the origin and meaning of this holy-day season.

A baby, it seems, once had been born

in the mid-east somewhere – the first holy-day morn.

But what does that mean for folks like us,

who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss?

Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting,

of hoping and praying, and anticipating?

Can we let go of all the things and the stuff?

Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough?

Can we open our eyes and open our ears?

Can we find him again after all of these years?

Will this year be different from all the rest?

Will we be able to offer him all of our best?

So many questions, unanswered thus far,

as wise ones seeking the home of the star.

Where do we begin-- how do we start

to make for the child a place in our heart?

Perhaps we begin by letting go

of our limits on hope, and of the things that we know.

Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss;

let go of the searching, let Christmas find us.

We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes,

to see the king coming in our own neighbors' cries.

We look without seeking what we think we've earned,

but rather we're looking for relationships spurned.

With him he brings wholeness and newness of life

for brother and sister, for husband and wife.

The Christ-child comes not by our skill,

but rather he comes by the Creator’s will.

We can't make him come with parties and bright trees,

but only by getting down on our knees.

He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction,

Coming in spite of, and not by our restriction.

His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt.

The question is whether we'll be in or out.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

Do you have the courage to peer through the lock?

A basket on your porch, a child in your reach.

a baby to love, to feed and to teach.

He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son.

How far will we follow this radical one?

He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are.

He'll lead us to follow a single bright star.

But that will come later if we're still around.

The question for now: Is the child to be found?

Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?

Can we find solitude in our holy halls?

Can we find hope, keep alert, stay awake?

Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake?

From on high with the caroling host as he sees us,

He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus!

As Advent begins, all these questions make plea.

The only true answer: We will see, we will see.

©  1994 Todd Jenkins