Dear Kitty,

By The Mind Filled on December 10, 2012 • ( 2 )

Dear Kitty,

Yesterday our pastor discussed Advent and left us with the following definition:

Advent – a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration; a coming into place, view, or being; arrival: the advent of the holiday season.

As I looked at the word, I started seeing another word and I had to look up the definition:

Adventure – an exciting or very unusual experience. Participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

This season of Christmas approaching is indeed a time of expecting, waiting and preparation for celebration of the Nativity. The anxious excitement as we see all sorts of depictions of the woman with Holy child, traveling with her husband and lying a baby in a manger. We sing carols like the Heavenly Hosts and give gifts as the Wise Men did. We see in that baby the image of God come to Earth as man, cradled so tenderly by his mother and looked upon so lovingly by his father.

Jesus is born and then we face December 26th. Advent is over, so what next?

Adventure

After all the expectancy, the moment is here; Jesus has been born and it is time for his adventure.

An unusual experience of a man who was willing to take on exciting undertakings and bring to us a new enterprise. One that challenged the Laws and changed hearts. A man who touched a blind man so that he may see. A man who touched a life so that they could see more clearly. An adventure taken by love and paid for by life.

Many times I don’t seem to move past the Season of Advent. I cherish that baby in the manger and wonder what next?

After all the presents have been unwrapped and the tree is taken down, it brings a feeling of emptiness in the wake of being in a state of anticipation for so long. I have my gift unwrapped in my hands, but the excitement that built inside me as I was discovering what it was, is over.

I wonder if Mary felt the same way. Months of expectation and wonder of what this gift would be. A King, A Savior, A Prince Of Peace. As she held her newborn baby and looked into his face, did she wonder what next? As she nursed her son, did she know the adventure that awaited?

Adventure is the moment after Advent. The moment that you take the gifts you have been given and you make the effort to move into an exciting undertaking.

When you wake on December the 26th and the manager is put back into storage, will you be able to see the gift that you have been given?

A life meant for adventure. To touch lives around you so that they may see more clearly the very gift that they have. Will you be willing to challenge the laws and change hearts?

…and frankly…after all the time waiting for something wonderful to come, will you realize that it already has and is waiting for you to take that adventure?