Advent : Hope

I am having trouble restraining myself from saying "Merry Christmas" to people.

It's December 1.

Started listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving and excitedly started Advent last Sunday. My motivation for a strong finish to the quarter is the prospect of having more time to think about the holidays when I'm done.

I really like Christmas. To put it lightly.

This week is the first week in Advent--the week of hope. Hope for the coming of Christ at Christmas and for his return. Hope that the world will be set right. Hope that "there's some good in the world, and it's worth fighting for" - in the words of Samwise Gamgee. The following is one of my favorite scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies. Even in the midst of devastation and defeat, Sam has an amazing hope that allows him to continue the fight.

Because I am in gospel choir this quarter, I visited the tiny Bailey African Episcopal Church in Everett for an assignment. Was quite the experience. The congregation (of about ten people) makes up for its small size in warmth and generous hospitality. I have never felt so welcomed. It was the first Sunday of advent, so the pastor's message centered on hope. He defined hope as "what happens before the fulfillment of God's promises." Since the Bible shows how God keeps all of his promises, the pastor claimed that "a Christian without hope is a contradictory statement." Christ is our hope and Christmas is a the fulfillment of one of God's promises. 

As my Grandpa told me in an email a few years ago: "Keep hope alive. It will keep you alive."

I must say, I'm absolutely pleased as punch about how the timing of this post has worked out. Today is World AIDS Day - the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the disease. And today, it's a day of hope as we look toward achieving an AIDS-free generation by 2015. At the World AIDS event today, world leaders, politicians, musicians and others discussed the beginning of the end of this devastating disease.  That sounds like hope to me.

This year (RED) and ONE joined together to put on the World AIDS event and the (2015)QUILT. Every person can make a panel for the virtual quilt and pledge to join the fight against AIDS. (You get a free download of song by The Killers too!) To learn more check out (RED) and ONE.

Here's my panel:

Look for hope this Christmas season. I think you'll find it. 

This week's Christmas song: