A Time to… ?

Written by Andrew Morris on Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent

Somewhere between childhood Advent calendars and just the busy reality of daily life, Advent for me was pretty much just a countdown clock for Christmas. (I.e. Crap; I was supposed to finish buying gifts before we got to that funky pink candle Sunday) But as I’ve grown, I have slowly come to better appreciate what the season of Advent offers to everyone. There is a deeper message or lesson that’s supposed to come out of a season versus just a reminder a day or week before Christmas.

Advent has really grown into a season of reflection upon the other “seasons” of life I am in. In this past year, what seasons of my life am I in or still in? What frustrations, mistakes, or joys stand out, and why? Are there circumstances, other people, or even myself that would be better served to move toward forgiveness? How do I think and see God leading me further into his grace and shaping me into becoming the truest version of myself?

I personally can’t say 2015 has been the best year for me, with the death of a close grandparent, and the natural upheaval and major life changes following graduation from college being the major highlights of my year. Yet even in this chaos and stress, I can see how some of those threads and circumstances that initially just seemed to be challenges led to unexpected opportunities for growth and more meaningful relationships with others.

By understanding which seasons of life I’m in, I am more open and able to see how God is leading and inviting me to really live, appreciate, and take advantage of the opportunities that are here today. Advent ends with Christmas, and the birth of the savior, but you don’t need to wait for Christmas. If you closely examine your own life, he is already active and at work and inviting you into deeper relationship with him, no matter what season of life you’re in.

Questions for Reflection:
What seasons of life are you in (or were you in this past year)? How do you see God present?
Are you taking advantage of the unique opportunities that each season has?

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Andrew Morris
Andrew graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2015 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. His favorite season is definitely Fall.
Email: andrewtm@umich.edu