Five Minute Friday: Advent

I thought it would be fun to try something today that other bloggers have tried: to write about a topic for five minutes, and publish. No crazy editing, no over thinking, so here goes.Advent.Advent means arrival, and it's how the church calendar starts. I find it so fascinating that where the story of God starts is with waiting. We light candles in the darkness week by week as a way of saying, "The world is dark, it's not right yet, and I'm longing for things to be made right."The world that I see around me (San Bernadino, North Minneapolis), is a war zone of pain, darkness, and horror. Come, Lord Jesus.There are parts in my own inner world that are a war zone of pain, darkness, and horror. Seriously. Come, Lord Jesus.Advent reminds us that there is a bigger Story, a bigger Something, a bigger Someone who is coming to make things right. And we can partner with that Someone in small ways to made the world lighter right now.Jesus is the light of the world, he says. I am the light of the world, Jesus says.Advent is a time to remember that light is needed.Advent is a time to remember that our longings for things to be made right are sacred.What are you longing for? What are you hoping for? What do you see in your own life and in this world that you think needs to be made right? As you light candles this season, what part might you play in making all things right? What might you need to make room for this season, so that light can burst in, bright and beautiful and new?Settle into Advent. Don't let it rush by. Don't hustle and bustle your way through this season. Find moments to stop hurrying.And that's five minutes.In it together, friends.