Monday, December 7

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
—Luke 1:79

It seems we’re always waiting for something or someone. We’re waiting to make a bigger salary, we’re waiting for a new or better job, we’re waiting to heal from a sickness, we’re waiting in line, we're waiting see our loved ones. During the time that we are hoping to get what we don’t yet have, we are in a place of darkness.

We’re like the father Jesus talked about who was waiting for an important arrival—the arrival of his wayward son. Even though his regular activities went on as he waited, there was darkness in him as well. He felt the darkness of not knowing if or when the son would actually come home. When he finally saw his son coming toward home, he ran to meet him with joy in his heart. For him, the dawn from on high had broken upon him. Light had replaced the darkness in his heart.

We, too, await an important arrival—the arrival of God into our lives.  The word Adventactually means important arrival. Whenever we are waiting for the coming of God it can feel like we are in darkness. We do our daily activities but, like the father in Jesus’ story, we wonder if or when God will come and lift our darkness.

The promise of Advent is that God is always coming to us. We can look across the field and see God’s presence in the people and world around us. We can become silent and still, and look inside our own heart and feel the presence of God. Unlike all the other "waiting"in our lives, we can know that God is always present if we just take the time to see and notice.

Gracious God, remind me that you are always arriving in my life and scattering the darkness away.