The Advent Window

By Nancy Shuman -

In our secular, we're-doing-fine-by-ourselves world, there appears in this season an amazing and unique window of opportunity.

 A slot.

 A crack in the Everyday.

 An opening through which the call of God might be heard through carol or card.   

In recent years, we have seen that crack narrow.  The Court House steps of my youth haven't seen a nativity display in years.  Store clerks wish me "happy holidays" at best.  But even now, somewhere between shoppers lined up for black Friday and the queues awaiting after-Christmas sales, there is still a window of opportunity.  A time when someone rushing through a store might catch the strains of an old familiar carol, one she's heard every Christmas since childhood.   Yet this time, the words sound.... different.  She remembers pictures of a babe in a manger, and some part of her seems to thaw....

This is a season when we can acknowledge (like at no other time) the One Who was born for us. After all, few of our friends will toss out cards that happen to have nativity scenes on them.  Neighbors visiting our home won't be offended by the words of "The First Noel."  It's all just part of the season, part of the holidays, part of the fun.

 The Church will begin Christmas music and celebrations on the 25th, but out here in the world, the window is now wide open.

 This is when scenes and songs normally found only in Church can spill out into the world.....

For now, for just these few short weeks, the window is open.  We have no idea who might be looking through it.

I pray that they may catch a glimpse of Christ...
 

full post is at thecloisteredheart.org

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