Advent, the liturgical season leading up to Christmas, has been a favorite of mine for years. But I have never written about it before in my blog. Now’s the time! I wrote about it in Chapter 2 in my new book, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir. Here’s a sneak preview of my new book!
Chapter 2
Advent: Why Anticipate Christmas?
Yes, it’s only one day a year, but celebrating the entire season leading up to that day fulfills me as an adult—and as an eternal child.
My memories bolster me as I grow older. Each time a specific event comes up, I rush for my computer to capture the thought and the feeling. I hope that enchantment never dies.
As an Episcopalian Christian, I take part in the season before Christmas, Advent. Surprisingly, I have never written about Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas.
When I first became familiar with this season, I jumped in full force. Every year, I put out the Advent wreath. It held four candles—mine were purple—in a circle with a white one in the middle, the Christ candle.
In the morning before work, I lit first one candle the first week, then two, then three, and then four for the four weeks of Advent and read a corresponding prayer. When Christmas Eve came, I was supposed to light the white one in the middle, but often I forgot because of the busyness of the day. Still, I enjoyed the anticipatory energy this tradition gave me.
Then, for many years, I drifted away from this observance. I divorced my ex-husband and began a sad seven years of my life, turning my back on God.
After twenty more years of being angry at God for my divorce and losing my adopted child, I returned to my God, cautiously searching for a church. Advent had come and gone for so many years, I felt no connection to it anymore.
Every year around Thanksgiving, a faint remembrance of Advent swept over me, but my anger and pain won out. Then I found my present church, Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, and a Higher Power I could work with through my recovery programs. Advent began to seep back into my life ever so slowly. The familiar quiet celebration of past years won out as I rediscovered the joy of Advent and the anticipation of Christmas anew. What I enjoyed the most was the focused anticipation of the birth of Christ, again, this year, not 2,000 years ago, but this year!
Two years ago, a friend from recovery asked if I wanted to do a phone group Advent study of Father Richard Rohr’s book, Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent. What an inspiring experience that was. In this short book, Father Rohr shares daily Scripture readings, a short commentary, and then a reflection question that helped me interact deeply with the theme of the day. I loved the focus on this instead of the commercialism in our world!
So last year, I reread the Rohr book by myself and once again enjoyed the anticipation of the birth of Christ.
I haven’t done the Advent wreath recently, but maybe next year!
If you’ve never done it, now might be the time to give it a whirl.
Larada Horner-Miller, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir, (2023): 5-7.
Finally,
Today started Advent for this year. This morning I began to read Fr. Rohr’s book, Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent, for the third year. Because of my previous experience, I know my God will bless this Advent! Join me!
Do you observe and celebrate Advent? If so, tell me your experience!
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