Unwrapping Christmas: A Theology of Longing+Steve Martin Book Review+Notes on Jude & Missions Conference Update

The prophetic silence is loud before Christ.

What does expectation look like in our lives? We have all been in seasons of waiting. It’s one of the most natural human instincts. Whether a new baby, a new job, or a move, the expectation is the human adrenaline, the rush of waiting, and the high of hope.

The Christian calendar acknowledges this by starting with longing. Advent inaugurates the new church year by placing us in child-like faith at the feet of longing.

Children long for Christmas morn! They long for the sound of tearing wrappers and laughter. That’s the hope of Advent. Advent is a training camp in waiting.

Unwrapping Before Christmas Day

We tend to unwrap everything to get that prize before its time, to snack too much before the feast is served, or to play Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. While I am a stickler for waiting for Christmas music, can we all at least agree that we could afford to wait a little longer? Perhaps we need a heavier Advent song resume so we don’t jump into the sounding joy of Christmas tide.

Now, if these simple illustrations of waiting in the 21st seem daunting, imagine increasing your hopes and longing for 400 years. Imagine expecting Christmas for centuries only never to see its fulfillment. Your children come along and hear your stories, and they, too, wait, but Christmas never comes. Their children’s children come and wait, and Christmas never comes. Always winter.