An Insatiable Desire for Advent
Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The first candle lit on the Advent wreath symbolizes HOPE. I HOPE that my attention to this time will cause an insatiable desire for leaning into the real reason for the season.
Even in the midst of busyness, we can have an insatiable desire to take time to quiet our hearts and contemplate our Lord’s leaving heaven’s portals to come to this earth, become one of us, and bring salvation to us so that we will have eternal life with Him forever.
It may sound unholy here to segue from my First Sunday of Advent discussion to talk about my sweet tooth but hear me out. I’m going somewhere with this.
Let’s think about yummy See’s chocolates, and particularly the ooey, gooey caramels covered by chocolate and salt! I can’t say “no” to one or two and my husband doesn’t help me curb my insatiable desire for them.
I really have an insatiable love for sweets. And to make matters worse, I’ll soon be making batches of all kinds of cookies which really do require a taster and that would be me! Oh, yes, I’ll be indulging in them like there is no tomorrow!
Soon I’ll get back to resisting my “sweet” cravings and embracing my commitments and cravings for good health. I know my good Lord will give me the strength to refrain from those cravings. That’s when life gets sweeter, and my clothes fit so much better!
Let me reel my sweet cravings back in because I want to focus more on the First Sunday of Advent! HOPE-filled — heaven-and-earth-filled Advent. The wonderful season of waiting and preparing our hearts for the marvelous gift of Emmanuel.
This is the season we CRAVE our Lord’s presence and when we renew our insatiable love for Him once again. He Who came from perfect heaven to imperfect earth. ALL because His Father loved us so much that He sent His beloved Son to earth to rectify our wrongs and to give us the HOPE and promise that He is with us as Emmanuel (God with us).
Our Lord gets us. He gets our cravings and our human nature that falters at times. He helps us get the true message – that He is preparing a place in heaven for us as we prepare for His coming as a baby during Advent.
More than sweets, I purpose to crave the sweetness of Advent and God’s Word. I plan to linger in the Book of Luke that chronicles Jesus’ birth to His death and resurrection. Instead of relying on sugar and caffeine for our morning fix – may our energy boost come daily from praying and reading God’s Word.
May we indulge deeply in what the Lord offers us, focus on Him, and crave He who changed everything when He became one of us. Emmanuel. God with us!