“Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.”
She really turned it around. He came to his senses. They are on fire. Did you see that comeback? Rally time! Rally hats! Let’s shift gears. He’s got it all together. She pulled through. Time to upgrade. Take it to the next level. He’s beginning to believe. There is no spoon. Disrupt the industry. Charge! High speed, low drag. Pivot. Using cutting edge technology. Ideas worth spreading. New and improved. This just in. First rate, top notch, beyond compare, and second to none. What a transformation! This will revolutionize the way we live our lives. She had a change of heart. He saw the light. They charted a new course. That’s progress. It’s a breakthrough. Eureka! They’ve made great strides. It is a quantum leap. Advancing by leaps and bounds. Get up, everybody! I’m on the look out. She’s hooked. He’s ahead of his time. We’ve got spirit, yes, we do! Plugged in, turned on, and ready to roll. You’ve got my attention. Brilliant!
Wake up!
She’s getting by. He’s skating. They’re coasting. Did you see that melt down? Choke! Choke! Stay the course. He’s falling apart. She dropped the ball. Out of service. Slow and steady wins the race. He’s lost touch. There is nothing new under the sun. Legacy industry. Retreat! Fat and slow. Drop anchor. My Windows 98 is just fine. Ignorance is bliss. Tried and true. A day late and a dollar short. Second rate, poor quality, inferior, and inept. What a let down! This will be a return to the stone age. She plays at her own game. He is dense. They can’t see the forest for the trees. That’s backward. It’s a road block. Yawn! They’re doing the same old same old. It‘s in decline. Going in reverse. Ho-hum! I’m in the weeds. She’s apathetic. He’s behind the times. We don’t know and we don’t care! Indifferent, fearful, and stuck in the mud. You’ve got to stop. Awkward!
Wake up!
Today is the day and now the proper hour. As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited to wake up, get ready, and be engaged. In the birth of Jesus, God did something new. For billions of years, the universe unfolded according to plan, within bounds. Two thousand years ago, the horizon of possibility and vision radically changed. Heaven and earth were united, the great chasm crossed, the barrier breached. God came to us, as one of us. Something new happened. Something new continues to happen. Are we ready?
My life seems to accelerate at this time of year. In addition to my normal responsibilities and schedule, more events, parties, meetings, shopping, travel, planning, liturgies, and deadlines get squeezed into the next four weeks. It can feel like I’m just being dragged along by the momentum of Christmas preparations and the coming end of the year. This happens to all of us, as it was in the days of Noah. Something’s got to give, if we are going to wake up. We can’t just go through the motions. Our eyes need to open. These questions can get us started:
What longing in my heart is unfulfilled? What is keeping me from being free to love?Where am I most selfish? What am I most afraid of? How is the image I portray different from the reality of my life? What is my most hidden secret? What is my deepest wound? Why do I think that I don’t need help? What needs to change?
Jesus is coming. He is already here. Let us rise from our slumber. A new day is dawning!