December 21

Becky Hafner-Camp

Holiday times often make me think of my childhood. When I think about Advent, various images come to mind: days getting shorter, weather becoming gloomier and colder, anticipation of the birth of Jesus, thinking about presents to give (and receive!), knowing that I would soon see grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins; and that we would revel in each other’s company.  There would be singing, playing music, eating, playing Yahtzee and getting creamed by grandma Minna Hafner in the game of gin rummy. It was worth it to get a piece of her Lebkuchen or Stollen.

We always had an Advent wreath and an Advent calendar.  In the ‘50s, the Advent calendars we had did not include candy.  When the little door was opened for the day, there was a lovely picture of a wreath, a candle; then, later in the season a shepherd, an angel, or a star would appear.

The predominant feeling was preparing, journeying spiritually, traveling, waiting, and biding that time that was also holy. The lights got brighter as we approached the “oases” on the freeway around Chicago, the Advent wreath glowed more as a new candle was lit, the house brightened as presents appeared, the living room was warmer after the tree lights were added.  All this was to prepare. At the end of the Advent season appeared the brightest, most glorious Light of all time, the Prince of Peace and Savior of our world.

John 9:1-7
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.