I Wait in Hope

There are no Five Minute Friday link ups this month, which means no word prompt. In lieu of that, the first four Fridays of December we'll explore Advent, since that provides a ready-made word to focus on each week. (I am apparently unable to write on Fridays if I'm not given a word.)

While doing a little Advent research (I couldn't remember the word associated with each candle in an Advent wreath for each week of Advent :) ), I saw Advent explained as a time of preparation for celebrating the birth or coming of Jesus.

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This seemed a little short sighted since the reason for Jesus' birth was so that He could die for us. That's what I'll be looking at; how each of these words focuses not just on Jesus the baby, but Jesus the Messiah.

The first candle of Advent is the hope candle. I also saw this explained as the candle of expectation. We wait in expectation for the celebration of  Jesus' birth, but in a larger sense we wait in hope and in the expectation for Jesus to return again.

He tells us in His word that He will come again, so the hope we feel is a hope steeped in assurance; a certain knowledge that our eternal life with Him, promised by His death and our salvation because of that death, is a hope that will be fulfilled.

So light the first candle in your Advent wreath and celebrate the hope of Christ's return.

Choosing Sides

Welcome to Five Minute Friday, a let-it-all flow writing experience sponsored by The Gypsy Mama.  Today's word is Expectation.

Expectation is a two-edged sword.  We can be crushed, angry or frustrated when our expectations are thwarted and teach ourselves not to be expectant, not to get too excited about anything because we know we'll be hurt or disappointed.

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The other side of expectation is so opposite.  It can cause feelings of buoyancy, excitement and hope.  This is where we dream and plan and imagine and think about the could bes and might bes.

What side of the sword do you walk on?

I am more of the guarded sort.  I've known a lot of disappointment but I'm trying to learn how to live a life of excited expectancy.  If I don't take chances and don't let myself experience the exultant, exuberant side of expectation and life I believe I am going to miss out on some great things.  It's always a balance.  Is is worth taking the risk?


Here's how Five Minute Friday works:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.