I thought Advent Calendars were something we grew out of. Something just for kids. I was wrong. They’re for everybody.
We had them when I was little. Advent calendars helped us mark the time until Christimas. Sometimes they were paper. Sometimes they had chocolate. They certainly didn’t have the little POP! toys my kids get.
Somewhere along the line I stopped using them. Most likely it was the transition from my parents buying them for me and I would have to buy one for myself.
Advent Calendars, with their surprises and treats, provide a measure, not only of time, but of witness to the passing of time. To the anticipation.
Of course we can complain that they rarely actually start on the first day of Advent, but December 1st is not so horrible a compromise. Our primary work as people of faith should rarely be about ensuring accuracy. Energies are better placed elsewhere.
What is good is that daily attention that comes with marking time with an Advent Calendar.
One of my favorite tools is #AdventWord, a global advent calendar of creativity. Anyone can participate in the way that you are. Through word, picture, song! The internet is such a visual medium, though, so pictures are most common.
My friend, the Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown paints each day’s word and posts it on Instagram:
My friend, Sean Maloney posts daily Advent Thoughts on his church’s YouTube channel. He’s even recruited others to help him.
Doing something every day to mark the day creatively stretches us and encourages us. And if you haven’t, there is no reason not to start now.