Day forty six

I finished that book and I realised I'm not a sociopath, but there was a section on attachment disorder and I'll write about that tomorrow. Another event from my childhood popped into my memory that was very significant, but that's tomorrow.

Today I want to talk about Advent and Christmas. Someone who was talking to me at my door yesterday said he thought I had my Christmas jumper on too early. It was the 17th December yesterday! It's 8 days until Christmas Day. I had a superintendent minister in a previous circuit who wouldn't allow the Christmas tree up in her house until Christmas Eve. Her kids were not happy. She told them it was Advent, not Christmas. The man at my door didn't have a theological reason for saying my jumper was too early.

So when is Christmas?

In many places I have lived in recent years the neighbours have their outside Christmas lights on from early December, and usually take them down before New Year's Day. We put ours up, usually (not this year), on the 11th December and then take them down on the 6th January. By then ours are the only lights still on.

I like the 12 days of Christmas.

But what is Advent about?

Preparing for the birth (advent) of Jesus? - too late!

Preparing for the return (advent) of Jesus? Really?

It's a while since I have had an "expert" in the Second Coming in any of my churches. They were always amusing, but they did read their Bibles.

Shouldn't we always be preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus? Not just a few weeks at the end of the year?

I like the NIV translation of 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

And that suggests to me that the Church just isn't holy enough yet for Jesus to come back, so get your Advent sorted out, and enjoy Christmas as much as you can.

Tomorrow: Attachment! There are no health updates yet.