In 1823, the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas was published. This familiar story, written by Clement Clarke Moore, has stood the test of time. It is known for its vivid depiction of the anticipation of Christmas Day, St. Nicholas, and the reindeer. Its opening sentence, “’Twas the night before Christmas” reminds us of the excitement, joy, and expectation of Christmas.

Advent (the coming) in the Church calendar also allows for reflecting on, preparing for, and awaiting the celebration of the coming birth of Jesus Christ. The truth is, 2020 has confronted many with a different type of hopefulness. This year has ravaged spirits, emotions, and even hope. There is a common yearning for the end of 2020 and longing for the arrival of a new year.

As we move closer to Christmas, St. Philip’s invites you to embrace a lesson we work to instill in our students year-round. As with “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and Advent there is an invaluable life lesson to embrace. With regard to the wise men, we can all learn to take joy in waiting. This joy in waiting, especially surrounding God’s promises to humanity, is an elusive lesson for many adults. Finding joy in our waiting brings about fuel to our faith, which allows us to keep optimism even in the toughest times. As difficult as it may be, the many benefits of waiting let us all dwell on major outcomes that have emerged as a result of the current state of our world. Just as it was with the coming of Jesus and now His return; let our joy be in the waiting.