the huddled masses

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
But fools detest turning from evil.
Proverbs 13:19

"I'll come back for you, soon
for the New Year, before the New Moon."
- Ninety-nine, One Hundred, The One AM Radio

******

The church is cold and drafty this morning. It feels very much like a barn, dark brown rafters arching up towards heaven.

My eyes search the ceiling's lattice work, letting my mind wander.

I think of how a small smattering of people could have huddled together like this (only centuries ago), trying to keep warm as they awaited the coming of the Light. The child a precious few eagerly sought out would be feared and kept out of Israel by a king. Though they didn't know what the future held, their thoughts must have been racing with anticipation of the promise the angel made to Mary, yet surely the air was heavy with fear.

What child IS this?

Today our bodies are spaced throughout this cavernous church, our feet touching ruby red carpet instead of straw.

We sit as pilgrims awaiting our good hope, anticipating His birth. We wait like watchmen praying out this advent season, our hope of heaven deferred, our hearts sickened by the evils around us. We patiently wait, longing for our savior to come.

I realize in this noontime camaraderie that the advent vigil is good for our souls; for patience is a skill we spend a lifetime learning to accept. The time will come when our hearts will be released - sweet longings realized and our hope fully fulfilled by the Son.

Until then we wait, eager to be harbingers of this new season, for the time being bowed over in our modern day stable, lights waiting to be lit, the redeemer waiting to show His face.

Today's Soundtrack: Ninety-nine, One Hundred – The One AM Radio