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FOR TUESDAY, ADVENT I
“What was the hardest part about waiting? What helps you wait?” by the Rev. Deacon Rachel Iversen
5 — 4 — 3 — 2 — 1 —Lift Off!
When I was little, my dad worked for NASA. We lived in Cocoa, Florida. Rocket launches were a big thing. When they happened, the ground would shake, the birds would fly, big plumes of exhaust would explode around the rocket and the rumble would get louder as the rocket left the ground. All the neighbors would spill out of their houses onto the street looking upward. The wait had been worth it. However, getting to the actual launch and lift-off never happened fast. There were always delays.
I’m not going to lie. Waiting was hard. It was hard for me as a kid. My parents practiced the art of distraction with card games like “Go Fish” or “Crazy Eights.” We would always have the TV on because the launches were live. We would play a game but keep an “eye” on the countdown. Anything could delay a launch when one of the checklists from NASA control would report a failure that might place a hold on the countdown. Scrubbing a launch was the worst. Weather was the number one reason for a scrub. Too high winds would stop the launch. Some days were good and we knew lift-off was a GO! We often would get ready for bed and say our prayers and head up to bed knowing that my father would yell up when the launch was counting down from 10 seconds. We would jump out of bed and rush down the stairs and onto the street as the countdown got closer and closer to lift off. My dad would be yelling, 3-2-1 Lift Off! The ground would start to shake and sometimes if the wind was blowing toward us we could hear the roar of the engines as the rocket was thrust off the ground.
Looking back I see that keeping the “TV” on played a major part in building excitement for the Launch. Doing things together made the time fun and memorable. As we are now in the season of Advent, I like to think that an Advent Calendar would be a great way to keep the “TV” on and remind us of Jesus’ birth. Planning family gatherings for meals or outings to get the tree, or writing a family prayer are on my list this year. What does your wait look like?
Reading for the week: Psalm 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain[a] in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Collect for the week:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Join us this Advent as we explore what it’s like to wait! We will be offering a collection of daily questions and reflections inviting us to consider what we experience and learn in our waiting, and how we find God - and God finds us - in our waiting.
Each Sunday a brief video will be shared on Facebook and Instagram to introduce us to a focus and reflection for the week. Each day a question will be posted for us to ponder. You are invited to share your own reflections by replying to these posts or reposting on your personal social media. Please follow and use #diocgcwaits. Be sure to follow our diocesan social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram; search: DioCGC.