Yesterday I ordered my ‘Real Advent Calendar’ (OK, I ordered 4 of them, but they’re not all for me - honest!). I’m sure many of you are familiar with them - Advent calendars telling the Nativity story and containing delicious Fairtrade chocolate. One of a number of ways in which we mark the progression of Advent.
Advent is about waiting or at least that’s what I was always taught. Which unfortunately made me approach Advent with frustration. After all, who likes waiting? Waiting makes me think of dentist’s waiting rooms or standing on train station platforms. Maybe those places fill you with excitement and anticipation. They fill me with boredom and dread. Which always makes it a little difficult when people try and tell me that there is joy in the waiting.
All this, I expect, would lead you to assume that I dislike Advent. However, you’d be wrong. I love Advent. I love seeing lights appearing in the darkness, terrible Christmas jumpers starting to be worn and even Mariah Carey’s annual reappearance on the radio. And yes, I love the Advent calendars, Advent wreaths and even the purple colour of the churches.
Why do I hate waiting, but love Advent? Because I’m not convinced Advent is about waiting at all. I think Advent is about expectation.
The expectation that God can, and will, turn up. The sure and certain hope that God has turned up, will turn up and is turning up - if only we have eyes to see it. In a world that feels divided - in a church that feels divided - it seems good to me to be reminded of that expectation.
One of the (numerous) ways I believe God has turned up recently is in our diocese’s recommitment to Fairtrade. If the world is dark, it is even more important that we stick to the basic principles about justice and fairness. So why not check out the diocese’s new Fairtrade page on the website, sign up to make your church a Fairtrade Church and order some festive treats - you know you want to!