Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1189208
6 Decemeber 1 AnticipAtory Wonder "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." – James 5:7-8 When I was a little girl, the Advent season meant rising early every morning before any of my other five family members to sit alone and uninterrupted beside our fully deco- rated, tinsel-covered Christmas tree. Close by stood a red and white cardboard fireplace that warmed my soul with the help of a small light bulb. Each morning, I would plug in the tree, light up the fireplace, and wind up the music box nativity scene to hear the alluring sounds of "Silent Night." Although I was a small child, those were sacred moments spent with God. My soul would soak up the moment while I pondered what Christmas meant to me. I had a front row seat, in the comfort of my dad's recliner, completely captivated by Mother's thoughtfully arranged manger scene displayed on an end table in our living room. To this very day, the sweet cedar aroma of the nativity still lingers in my mind—a fra- grant memory. Each character was carefully placed. There were shepherds carrying small lambs around their necks, while sheep grazed at their feet. In the barn, the cow and donkey stared reverently at the manger, while the angel hovered high above with a sign that said: Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Joseph was leaning on his staff admiring his wife and child, while Mary sat with outstretched arms gazing upon her newborn son. Yet something was missing. The baby Jesus was not there. In our home, the baby Jesus did not enter the nativity scene until Christmas Eve. He would somehow magically arrive at midnight on December 24th after we were all in bed. Through the eyes of my five-year-old self, each day of Advent was one day closer to the arrival of the Christ Child. Fast forward fifty plus years later and I can still remember those old familiar feelings of waiting and longing for the Christ Child to arrive. Yet, as I ponder my childhood antic- ipatory feelings, I ask myself these questions: Do I long for the second coming of Jesus in the same way I did as a child on those peaceful, tranquil Christmas mornings? How can I reenact those early morning contemplative moments now that I'm an adult? As we approach this season of Advent, maybe you and I can find fresh, new ways to await the coming King. Diane Kamin AlumnA And ChAplAin