Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
A Wait-less Wonder

A Wait-less Wonder

Last updated on: February 10, 2013 at 10:15 am by Erin Wathen

A Wait-less Wonder 2013-02-10T10:15:26-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Dear Friends,

For Advent this year, I’m writing a group study and daily devotional resource for use at Foothills Christian Church. If you’d like to engage in this journey with us, i’ll post the weekly materials here…For each week of advent, there will be a Bible Study component, 5 daily devotions, and a practical application. Attached is the introduction/prologue. I’d appreciate feedback along the way, and would love to hear stories if you use this in your communities of faith. BLessings!

Willing myself to bypass the tiny Snickers bars, I avert my eyes and hurry around the Trick-or-Treat aisle. Talking heads and leering pumpkins make it hard to avoid. From the silly to the supposedly-scary, it all works to force me into a Halloween place…in early September. No thanks. I’m still processing the fact that it’s back to school time and still 110 degrees outside.

But wait…Blocking my escape looms another display. Not pencils and backpacks. Not another pumpkin-cartoon-character-slutty- kitten explosion. It’s a snowman. No, wait; a snowman ornament. Like, for a Christmas tree. Dozens of them on an endcap, with festive dishes. Sparkly holly and jingle bell stuff every which way. It’s a whole holiday display, just begging me to begin the manic rush a full quarter of a year before the day arrives. Wait.

Seriously…please, just wait.

In Phoenix, September still means triple-digit heat. The absurdity of snowmen against that backdrop points to the heart of just about every social issue facing the Church and world. Is it any wonder that kids are having sex in middle school? We shudder at the thought, but we know it is happening. Far more terrifying than the gory mask displays, our children and youth cannot wait to grow up, and they forfeit childhood a little at a time. No matter how much we may talk to them about patience and virtue, they are systematically enabled by a culture of instant gratification.

Is it any wonder that our spending habits and cheap, easy credit finally caught up with us? To the tune of a national housing and job crisis?

Is it any wonder that urban sprawl destroys our communities and the environment a little more each year?

Is it any wonder that war seems like the only answer, just because it is the swiftest means of getting our way?

It is no wonder that the wait-less nature of the world has reached pandemic proportions. When we can watch/do/tweet/get anything we want, whenever we want, there remains little space at all for wonder, for mystery, for transformation. It is no wonder at all that the spirit of Advent has been destroyed by the September snowman. Abominable, indeed.

The joyful expectation, the hopeful imagining, the watchful waiting of Advent—all dissolve into greeting card sentiment, with no room for Christ to enter the world—let alone our own hearts.

In this season, and at all times, the body of Christ faces difficult conversations. We struggle to speak faithfully about sex, money, war, the environment, our political system, our addictions and patterns of gross consumption. But try as we might, the most difficult word in each of these conversations must also be the first…”wait.”

We might ask, in fact, if there’s any wonder left in ANYTHING. When all of our seasonal comforts dissolve into greeting card sentiment and packaging to be thrown away, there’s no room for Christ to enter the world—much less our lives and hearts.

Many of us believe, however, that there is a great deal of wonder left in the world, in our faith, and even in this season of joyful anticipation. Over the next four weeks we’ll journey together to seek a place of real relationship, meaningful community, and a kingdom kind of transformation. We’ll examine some of the traditions, purchases, and ad campaigns that bring us comfort and joy; and those that leave us feeling depleted and empty come the let-down on December 26. Like, will your house EVER really look like the Pottery Barn catalogue? What would happen if Starbucks ran out of the red snowflake cups; and why do they need sweaters to dress up their gift cards? Who buys that 2-million-dollar fantasy bra from Victoria’s Secret? And where…where would Jesus be staying, if he showed up at your house for the holidays?

We’ll find the wonder along the way, but first…we wait.

Thanks for joining us. It’s cool if you want to play Christmas music in the background along the way. Just not before Thanksgiving, ok? And please, no Celine Dion…

Coming up…

Week I Wait Isaiah 58 1-12

Week II Wilderness Mark 1 1-8

Week III Wonder Luke 1 26-38

Week IV Welcome Luke 2 1-7

Postlude Wise Ones Luke 2 8-20

progressive christianity

starbuck's

victoria's secret

Previous Post

November 8, 2011

Between Here and There

Next Post

November 23, 2011 And So We Wait...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to Jesus, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for." what?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Popularity Power Righteousness Money