MATTHEW 24:36 But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Most of you know that hiking the entire 2200 miles of the Appalachian Trail is on my bucket list. Since retirement I’ve been able to devote several weeks a year to that endeavor. I am proud to say that this Fall I completed over half of the trail. (Well, only one mile over half but still over half!) I have found that the preparation and anticipation of the hike is as fun and exciting as the hike itself. A portion of the trail is on the other side of Blue Mountain which I can see from our kitchen window. Around the end of February as winter drags on I look out that window, I hear the trail calling me and I begin to feel the excitement of what is to come and start planning my food, equipment, clothing, route and various other necessities.
This past week was a very difficult week for me and for some folks whom I have come to love. I had one of the three most difficult funerals in my nearly forty years of pastoral ministry. Saturday evening after the funeral, I looked out the kitchen window and thought, I can hardly wait to load my backpack and strike out. The though of what was to come lightened my dark day.
Jesus said, “But about that day and hour no one knows.” That’s okay with me. Not knowing means I have to wait. But waiting for something good is can be exciting. It’s like hiking for me. The anticipation and preparation for hiking is exciting, lifts my spirits and shines a light in my sometimes dark world. That's what Advent is about, waiting and preparing four our Lord's coming.
SO WHAT is it that you wait for that makes your heart beat a little faster, for which preparation is a joy? Is it a trip to the beach, a cruise, TGIF, the gathering of loved ones over the holidays or a hike in the woods? Be that excited about our Lord’s Second Advent and let it shine its light in your sometimes dark world.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Explode our imaginations to the wondrous glories of that day when we shall see you face to face. Come, Lord Jesus.
This is my first Advent reading for the year. I liked that it was personal and I was able to relate to several items.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excellent funeral delivery. I had several people, both from our congregation and visiters, that enjoyed your message. It helped.
My "get-away" activity is running. This summer I trained on the Appalachian Trail and it was difficult. I too would like to hike the entire trail sometime.
As far as the message for today, I agree that the wait is sometimes as exciting as the event itself. I can only hope that I will be prepared.
I'm reminded of the Israelites who were called upon to wait on the Lord so many times as He led them to the Promised Land. They waited with patience, excitement, and anticipation for what the Lord had in store for them, didn't they? Oh…I guess not!! They constantly turned to themselves to come up with their own "better, more reasonable" plans. Lord, forgive me for not even having the desire to wait on You! Lead me by the power of your Holy Spirit to wait on You with anticipation and peace in the knowledge that You are the omniscient, omnipotent sovereign God!
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