Advent is a season of Waiting, a hopeful expectation of something new to come.
Some of our hopes and dreams are our own to hold onto, things that perhaps others will not nurture or appreciate the way we will.
Others come with an excited announcement, and command the attention of the family or the community.
A pregnancy for example.
The good news can be contained for a brief few weeks by the expectant parents, but before long it manages to find a way into the ears and hearts of friends and loved ones.
And the expectant parents then wait for the arrival assisted by the anticipation and excitement of the extended family.
Mary contained her news briefly, but before long had to share it with another who could identify and understand her joy. Her cousin Elizabeth was also overwhelmed with this same sense of life as she was six months into a pregnancy that was conceived out of barrenness.
So they waited together and wrote songs about the coming event.
Advent is a season where we gather with friends, families and a community who shares the same hope. We tell stories of the coming king, we celebrate and exchange gifts.
We wait together.
