Another Year, Another Failed Advent Calendar

On Dec. 7, the neat Advent calendar I was gifted already had 16 doors ripped open, but being nine days ahead does not mean I am winning Advent.   

It’s not totally my fault. On Thanksgiving, I let some house guests open the first door so we could start the season together.

But then, last week I wanted a snack, so I decided to open one day ahead.

It’s a Wisconsin-themed calendar, so everything is made in Wisconsin. That day was a supper club spice rub to put on meat. Not too snacky.

No one could blame me for opening another door.

Dried cranberries. Huh. Not quite what I was jonesing for.

Rip. Peppermint bark.

Rip, rip. Dark chocolate. Ugh! So close.

Rip, rip, rip. Amaretto, cranberry, peach, pecan granola?

Rip, rip, rip, rip. Candied pecans. Fine.

I put the rejected treats back behind the doors, but there was no repairing the perforated seal or recapturing the element of surprise.

Now I must wait a few days if I want to get back on track. Ripping ahead won’t make Christmas come any faster.

Waiting is hard, and often it leaves us in darkness because the big waits mean change is coming.

Waiting for test results to come back to confirm or rule out a serious medical concern.

Waiting for a response on a job application in a race to avoid a gap in income.

Waiting for a judge to make a life altering court ruling, so you can see life’s next direction.

Waiting for graduation so you can move forward.

Waiting for answers, for restrictions to be lifted, or to be free.

Waiting can be exciting too. Like waiting for vacation, a wedding, or a baby.

When we wait, the timeline is out of our control. But we try to reject our powerless role.

In futile attempts to have power over our fate we grasp at solutions. Perhaps if I have a salad now, my test results will come back favorably. Maybe a deep internet search will show how the judge usually rules in cases like mine. Should I send another note to the hiring manager?  

But we can’t make answers come sooner. Sometimes, there is nothing you can do but wait, and trying to force a solution outside of God’s timeline will leave your life looking like a tattered Advent calendar.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” says Psalm 46:10.

God is calling us to peace. If we give the big stuff to the big guy, He will carry us though the wait. We don’t have to solve things beyond our control. When it is too big, it is time to rest.      

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint,” says Isaiah 40:30-31.

The only path to peace is to trust God, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and sends the light of the world through his son Jesus.

Lord, help us trust that you always light the path in your perfect timing.

Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.