At Christmas we encounter a lot of "shoulds" and disappointments. This is one of the reasons the idea of Advent is so powerful to me. The church calendar includes a 4-week period of longing. While the world around us hosts Christmas parties and celebrates the season, the church steps into a season where all we have is our desire that things were different.

Advent speaks to our longing. It gives room to be in the darkness. It gives us a season to grieve that things don’t seem to be as they should. Advent is a space for those of us who have been disappointed in this life.

And Advent gives us an opportunity for hope.

Song: "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play;
In music sweet the tones repeat,
of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, and does not sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
with peace on earth, good will to men.”