Christmas can be a magical experience.

• The time with family
• The food and drinks
• Christmas decorations and lights
• The holiday music and movies

But part of what makes it special is anticipation. In the Christian calendar, Advent is the time leading up to Christmas. In general use, advent describes the arrival of someone or something important.

We sense this with Christmas and other major events. Something important is arriving. We prepare for weeks in anticipation.

We mostly miss this now. We have turned the weeks before Christmas into a harried spree of shopping and obliged party going. Then we try and cram all of our expectations into one day. We don’t get the reactions we hoped to see from gift recipients. We eat too much food and our football team loses.

By skipping the spirit of Advent, we miss the adventure.

I hope your Christmas is wonderful. I hope it is a season of joy and wonder. I hope you are reminded of the power of love and generosity.

If it doesn’t meet your expectations, I hope you are able to unpack the expectations of one day in order to fill the next Christmas season with adventure.

Merry Christmas!