Advent and hope

Sometimes I have to laugh at us ministers.  We can get stuck on something and be ornery about stuff with the best of them.  I'm part of a clergy group on Facebook and one discussion was about how some ministers dislike the Christmas decorations in the church during the season of Advent.  Their contention is Christmas doesn't arrive until midnight on December 24th, and then we have 12 days to celebrate it.  The discussion went on some with a few agreeing and a few disagreeing. 
Technically I suppose Advent is not Christmas.  Advent is the time of the year when we prepare for Christmas so to have the decorations up skips past any preparation.  But, I love Christmas decorations...don't tell the misses because then I may have to do more in the decorating department...and I think we will miss a good chance to celebrate Christmas if we don't decorate or sing Christmas carols until Christmas and the 12 days after.  Plus, we have been so ingrained to celebrate Christmas right after Thanksgiving and take all the decorations down right after Christmas I don't think we can change. 
This discussion online got me thinking about how we treat Advent.  The advent season is truly a great time of the year.  The advent wreath and the traditions around it can truly keep is grounded and reminded of what Christmas is really about.  This week we lit the candle of hope.  Hope is something we all need.  During my sermon on Sunday I talked about the hope we have in the return of Jesus.  I mentioned that the promise of Jesus' return lets us know that things aren't always going to be like they are.  Jesus has promised to come back one day and set up a new heaven and a new earth where everything is perfect.  We waste our time predicting when that will happen.  What these promises give us is hope in a better future, and also not knowing the time helps us to remember to live as though Jesus was coming back at any moment. 
Does that sound like Advent and your life to you?  Do you live following the commandments of Jesus to love others and be selfless and loving and forgiving as though He was coming back tomorrow to see how you did?  I know I certainly don't.  I can get so wrapped up in day to day activities that I lose sight of the big picture and hope is the farthest thing from my mind.  Sometimes we get so busy with the minutia of life that we lose sight of what we're living for.  We forget Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet in this world and that He gave us an example of how we should live our lives.  Especially during this holiday season it is easy to get all caught up and forget to take a step back and truly look at how we live our lives and to be grateful for all we have.  Will you try to find time this year to enjoy the advent season and truly anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth?  Will you share with family and friends the message of hope and remember that no matter life's circumstances there is a savior who loves you?  Do that and you'll truly experience the joy and happiness of Jesus birth.