Advent everywhere

I love the season of Advent, Lord... 

I love the muted colors:
    shades of violet, rose and purple;
 I love the plaintive ancient song:
    O Come, Emmanuel...
 
I love this month-long refuge
    from the hustle and the bustle
and your blessing on my waiting
    for the promise of your coming... 
 
But let me not forget, Lord,
    it's Advent everywhere...
 
It's Advent in the darkness 
    where the hues of joy have faded...
 
It's Advent in Ukraine,
    where bombing mutes the carols...
 
It's Advent for the migrants
    seeking safety and asylum...
 
It's Advent for the lonely,
    the abandoned and rejected...
 
It's Advent for the poor
    who can't afford what Christmas costs...
 
It's Advent for the ones who wait
    for blessings they've been promised...
 
It's Advent where the people long
    for justice and for freedom...
 
It's Advent where your coming
    is the peace for which we long;
it's Advent where your peace, Lord,
    is the gift we need to share...  
 
As Advent wraps its arms around
    my heart, my soul, my prayer
let me not forget or doubt, Lord,
    that Advent's everywhere... 
 
Amen. 

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation