Advent 2018

Neither angels nor prophets sound the early notes of Advent around here.  Neither has some John the Baptist look alike walking around thumping the Holy Book.  Around here the beginning strains of the Advent season are being heard from the most unlikely of places.  Instead of coming from the heavenly corridors, it is coming from the pasture across the way.  Instead of it sounding like the sweet voices of angels, it is sounding like the soft moo of a small herd of expectant Moma cows.

 

Back in the Spring all eight of these cows out in the pasture were brought together for a visit from the local cow guru who does the artificial insemination work.  So, knowing the beginning point means being able to predict the birthing time.  The middle of this month will be what is called around here "the calving season."  Every time I look across the way toward the pasture, words like hope and expectation and anticipation come to mind.  I am hoping all the Moma cows do well.  I am expecting these new calves.  And, I am anticipating a bumper crop running around behind their Momas in a few weeks. 

 

Hope.  Expectation.  Anticipation.  Throw in a little waiting and it sure sounds like Advent is upon us.   These are words that have sounded in many of our churches on this the first Sunday of Advent.  In our worship we have heard that word announcing something new is upon us.  It is not just a new start of the Christian calendar, but a new sense of hope in the world as these days begin to unfold and fill our lives.   Maybe some folks were surprised when they arrived in worship only to hear the themes of Advent.  Around here those themes are being heard from some unexpected members of God's creation.