"Impatiently patient"

Impatiently patient:  I read this phrase yesterday in article totally unrelated to Advent or Christmas.  It seems, however, the perfect phrase for December.  For while prayers for patience seem to happen daily this time of year, in the end it goes something like this: "Lord give me patience, AND GIVE IT TO ME NOW!" (this was totally stolen from my church's Shine! Advent study by Patricia Farris).

A month is really not a long time.  And given the time-warped speed of today's society, it flies by.  We barely even have the time to BE impatient!

But, it's part of the process right?  When we know some thing is worth waiting for, the impatience becomes part of the process which makes makes the final arrival of what we have been waiting for all that much sweeter.  SO, I shall fully indulge in some impatience for the next 24 hours - then I will be ready to give way to the pure JOY when it comes time to hold the candle and sing Silent Night.

And then the real work begins.  For while Christmas Day may pass, the message of the season is only the beginning of the story.  We are called to be "impatiently patient dreamers of God's love on earth" - to look ahead for what wonders God has still in store for all of us and for the world" (Claudio Carvalhaes, APCE Advocate, Fall 2011).

Merry Christmas!

In search of an angel...

It was time.  After almost 20 years, the angel topper my husband had purchased at the CVS with his college roommate REALLY has seen better days.  So last year when we put away all the Christmas decorations, it didn't make it back into the box.  I figured then we HAD to replace it.

Who knew it would be so hard to find an angel topper?  But, here is it 6 days till Christmas and the top of our tree is still in need of a worthy replacement.  I considered a star - but we are angel people.  And even the stars were all pretty lame.  I found one angel that looked OK in the store...but it just isn't working for us.  

 The angel theme seems to be following me around this Advent.  It started with the lyrics of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and the image of angels "bending near the earth".  It has continued as I hunt for a new topper and hear the traditional readings and songs in worship.  Every year one character in the Christmas story seems to stand out (last year it was all about Mary for me) - this year it's angels.

So, what is it about angels that we love?  And, really, how did we ever progress to the images of pretty ladies flying with wings and wearing white sparkly garments?

I have been reading Adam Hamilton's Journey book this Advent - and he goes into a fair amount of detail about the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary - and how really he was likely just a man.  No wings, no halo (I have no opinion on the validity of this - just relaying what I myself read in the book).  And, as I dug a bit further, I was reminded that most of the angels in the bible (especially the old testament) were merely messengers.  No wings, no halo. 

I found myself intrigued enough by this to try and research the history of angels, where the idea of wings came from, etc.  I have not found a really clear answer (yet).  What I did find was that there are a LOT of songs with the word angel.  Seems we humans really like the idea of angels, including angels right here on earth.  So, how we got to that point remains elusive, but in the meantime I will enjoy a lot of angel songs (here are two for your enjoyment) and continue my search for the perfect topper....