For those unfamiliar with the season of Advent, it is the four weeks before Christmas.

Growing up, Advent was always about decorating our outside Advent wreath, pulling out Christmas books, and singing “O come, O Come Emmanuel” at night around our small Advent wreath on the dining room table. The last few years, Advent has been different. At first, I tried to make it as familiar and traditional as possible.  I got a makeshift wreath from my church, complete with tapers, and listened to variations of “O Come.” But this year, Advent has changed for me. Admittedly much of it is because I barely have time for myself as my semester wraps up. But also, I want to make it new. Lately, the repetitiousness of liturgy at church has started to bore me. It has started to become meaningless.  So I find myself closing my eyes during confession and other prayers and making them my own in my head. I did not want Advent to be boring or meaningless either. So I decided to dedicate my journal to Advent.

Here are some of the entries I penned:

Advent is about preparation. To be prepare is to be read for what happens. It is to be ready for a test, an event, the day ahead. During Advent, we prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ. We celebrate this every single year, so there can’t be much to prepare for or much that can take us by surprise, right? Contrarily, that is not the case. At every Christmas, we are different. We are a year older, our desires have changed us for better or for worse. This happens gradually, but faster than we think or wish. And so as we grow and change, our ways of preparing change. For Advent, we may cling to traditions like Christmas trees, eggnog, Christmas, music, etc, but out hearts are different. Christ is the same, but the way we look at him, think of him is completely different. It is up to us to continue letting him  in and to find the courage to keep him in your hear, soul, and mind.

Advent is about providing light in the dark. It is not necessarily a time for preparing for a light, but looking for it. Not only has there been less light per day, but the world has been darker lately, especially with ISIS and with the recent shootings in Colorado Springs and California. To dispel this darkness, we can look at the stars. We can light candles or even electrical lights. Most importantly, we can be lights to each other. In a climate of hate, terror, and chaos, we can love and affirm each other. We can pick each other up. We can hope. Because, ultimately, what is Advent? It is hope.