Plan Advent

There are certain cycles in our society that are so predictable.  The Christmas Season is one of those cycles.  As we move through the month of November more and more signs of the Christmas season appear in stores and public squares.  You see things about Christmas on TV and your hear Christmas music beginning to be played on the radio.  Then when Thanksgiving arrives the whole nation seems revved up and ready to go.  And to tell the truth I think that such a cycle has been more evident this year than in the past few.

It's as if the unpleasantness of the election season and the fatigue of a bad economy for over half-a-decade has made us all ripe for a full-blast Christmas season.  Through "Cyber Monday" (the Monday after Thanksgiving where people are encouraged to shop online) online sales in November where $16.4 billion for Christmas and $1.46 billion on that day alone.  Both numbers are up nearly 20% from last year.

Looking around its as if everyone is shopping like its 2004.  Won't we ever learn?  Will we always be stuck in the cycle of spend and spend and rush and rush?  Those who are tired of such cycles of work, debt, buy, and sprint are looking for a Plan B as an alternative that can free them from the stress of these endless cycles.  This past week many people looked toward Powerball as their Plan B.

That's right, with a jackpot of over half-a-billion dollars... HALF-A-BILLION DOLLARS!!! (Actually half-a-billion plus $88 million) the only cycle a person would need to ride is one completely of their own choosing.  Powerball promises the freedom do whatever you want the the allure of never being unhappy again.  Don't believe me?  160 million tickets were sold.  One for every 1.5 adults living in this country.  You don't sell that many tickets without making some pretty hefty promises.

But Plan B didn't work.  Now what?  Back on the cycle of spend and rush, buy and collapse from exhaustion?

The days are surely coming for a new plan.  "The days are surely coming says, the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah 33:14)."  The days are surely coming when the cycles of the old covenant and the empty promises of the present will be exposed for what they are.  The days are surely coming for a new covenant, a new righteous Branch from the line of David, a new plan... a plan B which actually is a Plan A.  And today... this day... such a coming hope is not symbolized by the Powerball ticket, no.  The days of hope that are coming is symbolized by the Advent Wreath.

The days are surely coming... and are now here... when we can be still and wait upon the Lord.  We can dwell in his presence and bask in his light.  We don't need to be chained to this cycle of spend and rush, buy and collapse.  Instead we are welcome to embrace this Season of Advent that begins right now... not on November 1... not on Thanksgiving... not on Black Friday... not on Cyber Monday... not on Powerball Wednesday.  Now is the time and now is the moment to embrace the calm, peaceful truth of Jesus Christ who is the Lord... who is our righteousness.

As the Advent Wreath gets brighter... slowly and steadily... week after week: we know that Christ is upon us and giving us peace and hope.  As the world's days get shorter and busier... the Light of Christ will be our bright Morning Star.  The days are surely coming when we can embrace this peace: regardless of money, regardless of employment, regardless of stuff. Allow the Spirit to turn your Plan A's and your Plan B's into a Plan Advent this year.  "Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)"