Advent has always been my favorite liturgical season. The quiet, preparatory waiting speaks to me. In the Before Time (before the pandemic), I spent December baking cookies, shopping, going to parties, and lots of other activities. Every day seemed to be jam-packed, allowing little time for contemplative practices, yet I longed for those quiet, preparatory hours.
That’s why I was so intrigued with a notion I first encountered in Gertrud Mueller Nelson’s book, To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration. As you know, many of our Christian traditions were built on existing celebrations and observances of pre-Christian people. Nelson explains that was true of the Advent wreath
Pre-Christian people, living an agricultural life, would remove a wheel from a wagon as the amount of daily darkness increased and bring the wheel inside. It was a deliberate act, acknowledging the slowdown in outdoor productivity that comes this time of year.
Invite the sun to return
They would lay the wheel on a table, decorating it with candles and gifts from the fields. When they lit the candles, they would invite the sun to return. With increased sunlight, the people could return to their work in the fields, sustaining their livelihoods.
Our Advent wreaths are rooted in this practice of pre-Christian people.
After learning this piece of history, my husband and I would joke every Advent that it was time to take a wheel off our car. I envied the slower pace of living that a self-imposed Advent exile would bring. No driving to work, the grocery store, the shopping mall, or the fantastic light show. More time to pray, read, and reflect. More time with family.
We never did that. Until now.
Gift of time
Because of the increased infections, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, Illinois officials are encouraging us to stay home as much as possible. We might as well take a wheel off our car because we’re not going anywhere during the Advent season. And we already know we won’t travel for Christmas either. The next four to six weeks are decidedly empty of obligations.
The wheel is off. What will we do with this gift of time?
I usually select a book to read and reflect upon during Advent, and this year’s choice is A Weary World: Reflections for a Blue Christmas by Kathy Escobar. We’re getting our Advent wreath ready. I have a quilting project that I’ll work on each day, producing small gifts for my extended family. I’ll join in the Blue Christmas Service offered by Women of the ELCA.
I’m looking forward to more time to pray, read, and reflect–even if that offer of time, now that it is actually before me, is a bit unnerving.
That’s what I’ll be doing this Advent. How about you? How will you observe our pandemic Advent?
Linda Post Bushkofsky is executive director of Women of the ELCA.
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Advent is one of my favorite seasons, too. We are busier than ever during this pandemic. We are baking rolls for food distribution sites, we are writing to housebound children and zooming with family members. We are trying to tend to the children orphaned by Covid deaths, many black and brown children, and, as a suburban whyte woman I am absorbing all I can about the atrocities of our racist practices and systemic racism. We are supporting small businesses and black-owned businesses. (Bought my Advent Calendar from ATHaynes Yarn and thoroughly enjoy it! Kindness is the theme) I am hopeful to be on the gracious side of the reformation of our society to be more just and less oppressive in so many ways. Our congregation’s women’s Bible study is looking at Romans and Saul/Paul; yesterday we again admired Ananias, who had the courage to do what God asked of him. Can you imagine? I am thankful for the articles that highlight racial inequities in WELCA materials. I first learned about redlining and generational wealth from an WELCA article. I am spending Advent with my ears open, called to be courageous. Thanks for asking.
And thank YOU for emphasizing the beautiful phenomena of balance. Quiet balances the hub bub. This Advent includes awesome worship in watching the moon rise, way more star gazing, lots of herbal teas, (even during ZOOM worship!) and practicing yoga more often and more intentionally than ever before. There is a need to effectively recharge through restorative ‘activities’ and inactivity as well. Thank God for Sabbath! Savor God’s Quiet, God’s stillness. Balance. Amen!
Paulette, you’re practicing that active waiting that Advent calls for. How beautiful! Thanks for sharing and serving as such an able example.