As a little boy, I remember the anticipation and wonder of the Christmas season. I would watch the tree to see if there were new packages with my name of them. When the catalogues arrived at the house, I would look at all the new stuff wondering and wishing. I can remember visiting Santa and watching him. I would watch his every move trying to figure out more about him.
On Christmas eve, our church took center stage. I was given the job at the church of handing out all the candles for the Christmas Eve service. I was picked to be one of four people who would have a "big" candle. During the service, we would make our way to the front of the overflowing church. The pastor would light our candle. We would then light the candles of the persons sitting on the end of the pew. Gradually the candle light grew to fill the room. As the candles were lit, a baritone voice sang, "Jesu Bambino" and there appeared a woman dressed as Mary holding a child. When all candles were lit, everyone sang "Silent Night" Holy anticipation filled my world.
Do you have a sense of Holy Anticipation in your world?
Holy Anticipation is the knowledge, not just belief, but the knowledge that God is present and at work. It goes against the grain of our world of doubt and despair. Holy Anticipation is faith with deepest conviction and belief that will not be denied. It has become the ground of our being that leads us into the mystery of God. Holy Anticipation sees the world filled with the wonder and awe of a redemptive God present and seen.
This concept of Holy Anticipation is what led Mary and Joseph to allow God to redirect their lives to be the parents of the Son of God. It is what led the shepherd from the hillside into the city of Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus. This knowledge of God present directed the Wise Men miles and miles away from their home base in search of a new king and a new kingdom.
You can fill your world with Holy Anticipation this Christmas. Begin by placing yourself in the hands of God. Come to know that Christ is born for you! Make room this weekend for worship. Find a place of worship and enter there with wonder and awe much like a child. Be still and hear what God is saying to you in your journey. Anticipate God's presence and work in your life.
An old man beaten down by life was walking down the streets of a busy city. Admittedly he had become a Scrooge because of the hard knocks of life. He found himself alone, tired, and weary. The nonsense of the season had become his focus. But then something strange happened.
He found himself in a large store filled with people busy buying last minute gifts. There was a small child standing so very still in all the hurried motion. The child caught his attention. Finally as he walked closer to the little child, he heard the child's voice saying, "It's almost time! It's almost time!" The child was looking at a small snow globe that pictured the traditional manger scene. The child realized that he was no longer alone and looked into the eyes of the weary stranger.
"It's almost time!" the child said again directing his words to the old man. The old man looked at the little boy and said, "For Santa?"
"Oh no! For Jesus!" answered the little boy with joy and then he ran away.
The old man gazed into the snow globe and for the first time saw something he had long forgotten. He saw Jesus!
May your weekend be filled with holy anticipation---may you see Jesus through the eyes of a child.
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