ADVENT PREPARATION

Advent is a time to prepare to celebrate Christmas, the miracle of God becoming flesh with the birth of Jesus. The four weeks of preparation help to focus on the hope foretold by the prophets, the peace born in Bethlehem, the joy announced to the shepherds, and the love of God proclaimed by the angels.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I had a serendipity personal preparation for Advent. A framed print hanging in the bedroom of our home caught my eye in a new and special way (image on the right). I bought the print after returning from a trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cissy. The scene is the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland as seen from the little town of Wengen. It is the same view that we had from our hotel window.

The week in Wengen almost five years ago was one of the most exciting and beautiful times of our lives. We were intent on "making a memory." A few weeks later Cissy had several surgeries at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for a rare type of malignant brain tumor. At the time we had no certainty what would be the outcome. God has been most gracious, as Cissy made a wonderful recovery.

Now when I look at the print on our bedroom wall I see it as representing our journey with cancer. It was a difficult valley passage. Though the valley seemed so deep and the way out long and steep, there were beautiful and precious moments along the way. Setting our heart and soul and mind to scale the lofty heights brought hope, peace, joy, and love, as we looked to God to meet our need.

Seeing the grandeur of the "big picture" gives perspective to the travail of temporary times.

May you look and listen for God to speak and show you His presence in your life during this very special season of Advent!

Gracious God, I pray that wherever each of us is on life’s pathway, we will anticipate the presence of Christ with hope, peace, joy, and love. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord's coming. Help us to hear and to do your word as we desire holy and righteous lives. We ask in the name of the Prince of Peace, the one who is the lover of our souls, Jesus our Lord.