Advent Alphabet

 

G = GO!

I’m all in for many, many more silent nights during the Advent and Christmas season.  Yet, there is too much to do, lists upon lists, preparation at home and work and church…it’s a hectic time.   Those views being true, then why of all the better Christmas-y “G” words did I select Go????

 

Because the story hinges on the shepherds, rough, smelly, poor, taken-for-granted if noticed at all, loyal to their flock folk.  These are my kind of people.  Of course, it is to these folks the angels appear and sing the message of the birth of Jesus.  Once the last note concludes the next word spoken from angelic voices is “Go.”

 

True, it’s not every day one is serenaded by an angelic chorus and after that experience pretty much whatever was asked next had a decent chance of being followed…. yet, with sheep in tow and the cold of the night air making their breath visible, the shepherds went and found and witnessed. 

Advent Alphabet

 F = FAMILY PHOTO

In our family we mark memories from before and after our father got a camera.

Initially the photos were nature pictures taken in his many walks and time spent in the outdoors.  Then, dad started taking the family pics and soon that lead to preparing, posing and photographing for the clan for the traditional family Christmas photo with hopes of said photo being the family Christmas card.  

 

As you will note, we had only one year when the family Christmas photo was taken. 

The photo never made it outside the family until decades later for a kick I used the photo for my annual Christmas card:

 

 

 

Advent Alphavet

 E = EMMANUEL

 

I’m a small town gal from a rural county…. those are my roots, it’s me.  During an organizing meeting this week with Community Health Organizers (CHO’s) in the Western PA rural counties someone shared that “city dwellers need to know the rural experience,” to which I shared, “I know it, those are my people. I’ve spent many days participating in that odd ritual of going to someone’s garage or barn, looking at a gutted, hung-up dead deer and exclaiming, ‘sure is a nice one.’”   Why one does that remains a mystery, yet daughters and siblings of hunters do it.

 

That introduction is to say that when attending college in downtown Pittsburgh I was very much out of my element.  I was scared. Uncomfortable.  I caught the bus each day and as I walked the Pittsburgh streets playing in my Walkman was the cassette of Amy Grant’s album, UNGUARDED.  I played over and over and over her song, “Everywhere I Go” as a rhythmic reminder that in the mean city streets I was not alone, yes, God was with me.

 

That is the faith statement of Christmas ---- Emmanuel, God with us.  That always brings me pause and awe and comfort…. God with me, with you, with our community, with our world.  Amazing.  Almost to the point of being so amazing why we hardly live as if it were so…….

.Advent Alphabet

 

D = DARKNESS and LIGHT

This year’s Hannukah celebrations and many synagogue leaders have commented that as the war rages they were making a point to bring as much light as possible into their celebrations; congregants are encouraged to come dressed in neon colors.    

 

I also understand the power of one candle. 

 

When I lived in Erie, I was often at the beach.  During one Summer Solstice celebration started at dusk, I lit my candle, placed it in the sand and went for a walk on the beach near the water line.  I walked for about 30 minutes, dusk became early nightfall and as I walked back to where my backpack and shoes were left, I paused. The light from one single, thin, 4-inch candle provided a wide circle of light that was noticed from 100 yards away. 

 

Many candles provide much light, of course.  Yet, one candle near the waters blazes. 

 

In these days one person with hope and a desire for peace can illumine the present moment.  Just one.  

 

C = CANDY

Rightly so, this season is one of cookies --- exchanges, trays, bake togethers, certain to put out when folks come to visit.  Trust me, I am a fan of cookies in any season, anywhere, anytime.  

 

Yet, let us also celebrate candy! 

 

Kudos to whomever realized the idea of the small candy cane --- perfect to hang over a mug of hot cocoa and melt into the chocolate.

 

Every year in my stocking was the “Book of Lifesavers,” an ingenious idea of a cardboard book-shaped container that held fiver rolls of Lifesavers.

 

Let every kid who ever wondered if getting coal instead of candy was a real thing for bad behaviors rejoice over the wonderful invention of coal candy, a lovely licorice-flavored treat complete with bucket and hammer!      

 

I am one who always carries in my pocket individually wrapped wintergreen lifesavers or other hard candies, most likely cinnamons or peppermints. I trace the beginning of this behavior back to the Christmas of my 10^thyear when my brother gifted me a two-pound bag of candy!  It was glorious!  All that hard candy --- the colors! The flavors!  Wonka himself never knew such bliss!

 

B = BLOW DART GUNS

 

My mother was and remains a total, amazing gift that we were blessed to have as our mum. She shone even more during the holidays; from decorations, to cookies, to meals, to rituals both new and old, to the gifts she thoughtfully purchased, Dorothy made Christmas amazing for her family.

As this post continues, it’s important to note that ours is a family of hunters. In our family, one quickly learns to ask “What season is it?”  When her two grandsons were the ages of five and nine, Mom decided to buy them a gift she knew they'd really enjoy...a total Dorothy Snyder thing to do.   The grandsons’ dad, my brother, is a successful hunter and he shared the love of hunting with his sons. Keeping that in mind, Dorothy decided a great gift for the grandsons would be....of course.....blow-dart guns. 

She honestly thought she was purchasing a toy....nope....Mom bought the grandsons real blow dart guns ---- the kind with the metal tipped darts....serious stuff.

Of course, the grandsons loved the gift! My brothers thought it was tremendous and quickly assembled a large cardboard box, blew up balloons and affixed them to the target.  A good portion of Christmas day was spent hearing the "pfffft" "smack" and "pop" of an actual blow dart being shot and hitting its target.  Echoing in the background was my mother's refrain, "O, my....I really thought it was a toy....I would never have bought a real weapon for two small children......" 

Happy Holidays from a family of hunters…….

 

A = ALMOST

 

From a children’s perspective the Advent season is one of building energy and excitement and the excitement is expressed in questions:

 

·      Is it time to open the day’s tab on the Advent calendar? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to take the cookies out of the oven? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to bring down the decorations from the attic?... Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to go to get the tree? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to open gifts? Mum’s answer:  “Almost”

 

As kids learn to tell time I think there is also a course for parents, am and pm in parent time is taught to answer “almost” and “not yet.”

 

Almost bides time. We do that during this season of Advent, biding time until the celebration of Christmas.

 

Almost will be replaced with that wonderful answer of “YES.”  For persons long waiting and individuals always coming close yet never fully there…. the Advent season is the universal YES to creation, to communities of faith, to individuals. 

 

The journey of Advent can be summed up in five words: Almost.  Yes.  Now.  Let’s go!