Advent waiting …not even a day.

Advent began yesterday—the First Sunday of Advent marking the beginning of the annual countdown to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. 

I was blessed to have friend and colleague, Rev. Nancy Benson-Nicol preaching for me.  Nancy is the Associate Director, Theological Education Funds Development & Director, Seminary Support Network (you can find out more about the Theological Education Fund here: www.presbyterianfoundation.org/tef.)  Nancy and I have worked together for several years now, in support of our denomination’s Theological Education Fund which supports our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminaries.  As a part of that work, I get a lot of news from our seminaries. 

This morning’s news was that McCormick Seminary in Chicago was closed for the day in response to the FBI warning the University of Chicago that a credible threat of gun violence had been received in association with today’s date. 

My advent prayer, for as long as I can remember, has been the hope that we are drawing near to peace on earth.  “Peace” is my long-awaited Christmas present.  This year, it didn’t even last a day. 

By the evening of the second day of Advent, news arrived in my newsfeed that a man had been arrested. 

“Jabari Dean, 21, was arrested for allegedly threatening to murder University of Chicago students and staff, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced Monday. Dean, of Chicago, has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.”  --stated in an online article by The Washington Post

I suppose a celebration is in order, that threats were made but that gunshots were not fired.  But that’s little consolation for a world still reeling from the latest mass shooting in Colorado over the Thanksgiving weekend, or where the Pope is visiting a war-torn part of Africa, or when we all recognize that another movie theater shooting or Sandy Hook is inevitable. 

In the movie, “The Hunt for Red October,” the Admiral (played by actor and former presidential candidate, Fred Thompson) offers:

“This business will get out of control.  It will get out of control and we’ll be luck to live through it.”  (You can view the scene here:  https://youtu.be/0-JA1ffd5Ms)

One day of Advent.  ONE DAY!  

And yet the cries for justice and righteousness, the cries of, “how long, O Lord,” and the promises of the Antiphons ache and groan among us! 

One day of Advent and the end seems lost, never to be found or heard from—the end of peace, not the beginning. 

One day of Advent and I’m pressing God, demanding God, looking for God to speed up the calendar.  Your Kingdom come, and right darn quick.  “Peace.  Give me peace when there is no peace.”  One day of Advent and my patience is already fried. 

But now, it’s just about been two days of Advent.  Two days of waiting.  Two days of aching for some of the people who ache and hurt, who live a lot closer to harm’s way than I do, apparently.  Two days, waiting, hoping, and praying for peace.  Two days.  Tomorrow, it will be three. 

I’d like to be afraid. 

Afraid of the guns. 

Afraid of the violence. 

Afraid of those who like or choose violence. 

Afraid for those who are in harm’s way; afraid I or those I love might end up in harm’s way. 

The truth is that I don’t have time …to be afraid.  The truth is …I choose to believe God’s got this. 

It’s just hard—waiting. 

Three days of advent.  And counting. 

© Rev. David Stipp-Bethune; Teaching Elder and Pastor, The Presbyterian Church of Llanerch, Havertown, Pennsylvania