Thinking of Advent

Preparations for the coming celebration of Christmas often serve as a window into the soul of contemporary society. Just this week I drove past one school with a banner advertising a 'Winter Fayre'. Some houses have festive lights on display and, of course, Santa has already made his grand entrance into many a store. Indeed, some schools have a 'Christmas dinner' for pupils in early December. One would think that Advent had been abolished and that Christmas was a month-long party season. Can we no longer see the value in waiting?

The season of Advent offers all of us a chance to discover/re-discover the joy of waiting.

Young people need Advent so as to learn patience.  They need to learn how to wait and not seek instant gratification at the click of a mouse or the snap of a finger. To have a good Advent is to glimpse the good things ahead, anticipate them with joy but wait until it is time to celebrate.  

Teachers need Advent to clear their minds of the form-filling, the submission of forward plans and topic webs, the endless 'reflections on practice' which drain the energy from the mind.  Advent should be a time when the joy of teaching is rediscovered as religious and cultural preparations for the feast of Christmas - song, drama, Scripture -  take the mind away from the latest 'outcome' to be achieved and 'learning experience' to be planned. 

Schools need  Advent in order to take stock, assess how the life of the school is promoting the common good and, yes, prepare in patience and joy for the coming celebration of Christmas. One key question for all schools, but especially for the Christian school, is this: are we really living 'Advent' or has Christmas come early.   

Perhaps we can make a personal resolution to live Advent as best we can. Christmas will come in due course.