LET'S TALK ABOUT . . .


                                                  "A SEASON OF ANTICIPATION"


The last week of November, the American Thanksgiving and Black Friday signal the beginning of the Holiday season for millions of people.  My favorite aspect of this season is the anticipation that is associated with it.  We see it on the faces of many: children anticipating presents, a break from school and special activities; family members looking forward to being reunited and sharing their traditions; retailers anticipating sales; weary employees longing for a few days off to rest and celebrate; charities anticipating the generosity of others to help them meet their needs; the anticipation of a new year.

Hope is a part of this seasonal anticipation.  Not everyone, however, approaches this season with a sense of hopeful anticipation.  For many it is an empty and lonely time of year.  This is especially true for those who have no families, no jobs, no homes and no hope or viable means of securing them.  In the spirit of the season many open their hearts to the opportunities before them to share with others a portion of their blessings and hope.  Kudos to all who do or even wish too if unable!

We miss a huge part of what this season is all about if we fail to enjoy the anticipation.  Stress, lack of time and sleep, overloaded calendars, unpreparedness, unforeseen circumstances and feelings of obligation so often result in us just plowing through to the anticipated days and arriving exhausted just in time to hopefully enjoy what has barely been anticipated.  It is often a real task to continue to anticipate this season no matter the circumstances.

For a few generations a tradition has been passed down in my family around what is called The Mystery Gift.  Every Christmas I purchase a gift for several children and make up twenty-five clues, one per day in December.  If the child can guess what the mystery gift is they receive and open it early.  The intentionality is to generate anticipation.  Some years the clues have been too hard and probably generated more frustration than anticipation.  It can be a challenge to come up with all those clues.  For years these children have ended up with gifts and a monthly supply of chocolate chip cookies for playing the game and to generate anticipation every month till we play again.

For me this season is about the revelation of one of the most mysterious gifts humanity has ever known in the birth of Jesus, the Christ child.  It centers around Bethlehem and the manger scene.  It elicits anticipation, it generates controversy, it causes one to take pause and contemplate the power of a mystery that affects calendars, governments, history, news stories and so forth for millenniums.
Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah and the Anointed One.  A claim that has, is and probably always will be either accepted or scandalous to millions.

How about you and your traditions?  How do you anticipate this season?  Is there mystery involved somewhere in your celebrations?  Warm wishes to all in the anticipation, actuality and aftermath!

Until next time . . . this is, Just Janice!