Did you ever wonder what prying open the little perforated cardboard window on an Advent calendar to get at the chocolate morsel had to do with Christmas? Me too.
So I did a little looking. Turns out the word ‘advent’ is from Latin for ‘coming’ and while the celebration of Christmas marks the birth of Jesus - his first coming - the season of Advent with the attendant ‘countdown calendar’ also gives nod to the promised second coming of Christ. There is a third and lesser known coming marked in the Advent tradition; that of Jesus’ continuing presence in our hearts. Hence the daily prize. This third advent tends to be overshadowed by the focus on the events of His birth which holds us in its thrall at this time of year, and by the much anticipated and debated events of His second coming. So whether it’s a Bible verse, chocolate or an even more mundane article that you reveal each day, let the window that opens be our hearts and minds to the true Gift of the Season. Each and every day.
-Darrel Hilman