Waiting. Waiting for the rain to finally come and the drought to end. Waiting at the red light. Waiting for the server to come take our orders. Waiting. We are not so great at waiting. And how often do we hurry up to get to the appointment…only to wait. We hurry to the airport…only to wait.

Advent: A time to look at waiting differently. It is a time to prepare our hearts to make room for the one who is to come. And it is a time of intense activity, full of gatherings and gift wrapping and baking …it is a time of tricky balancing. Henri Nouwen captures the season of Advent in the Christian’s live when he writes, “The careful balance between silence and words, withdrawal and involvement, distance and closeness, solitude and community…should be the subjects of our most personal attention.” Especially, I would add, during Advent.

Your place in the pew is waiting for you.