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How to Wait with Bated Breath This Advent

by | 53 comments

Sharing wisdom from Frederick Buechner on this first day of Advent. Chew over this with me today:

The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton.

In the silence of a midwinter dusk there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen.

You walk up the steps to the front door. The empty windows at either side of it tell you nothing, or almost nothing. For a second you catch a whiff in the air of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you’ve never been and a time you have no words for. You are aware of the beating of your heart.

The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.

The Salvation Army Santa Claus clangs his bell. The sidewalks are so crowded you can hardly move. Exhaust fumes are the chief fragrance in the air, and everybody is as bundled up against any sense of what all the fuss is really about as they are bundled up against the windchill factor.

But if you concentrate just for an instant, far off in the deeps of you somewhere you can feel the beating of your heart. For all its madness and lostness, not to mention your own, you can hear the world itself holding its breath.

–Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark

Ā Will you join us this Advent as we wait with bated breath for the extra-ordinary moment of Christ’s birth?

53 Comments

  1. Cherie from Queen of Free
    Cherie from Queen of Free on December 1, 2013 at 4:11 am

    Long have I loved Frederick Buechner! I can remember digging through shelves at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY my freshman year of college to find the perfect work of his to sink my teeth into. Can’t wait to go on the Advent adventure with you. šŸ™‚

  2. Eileen
    Eileen on December 1, 2013 at 5:01 am

    What a great quote! Looking forward to waiting with baited breath with you šŸ™‚ I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving!

  3. Tara Lantieri
    Tara Lantieri on December 1, 2013 at 5:33 am

    Super excited for this advent-ure!

  4. Elisa Gray
    Elisa Gray on December 1, 2013 at 8:19 am

    My desire this advent is to consciously look for Jesus each day.

  5. Janet from FL
    Janet from FL on December 1, 2013 at 10:10 am

    I am joining with you to wait, anticipate, and celebrate Christ’s birth! Thank you for sharing this devotional series with us, Margaret. I continue to pray for you daily.

  7. Sandi
    Sandi on December 1, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    I just discovered your blog, and I am excited to experience the Advent with you.

  8. Nancy Owen
    Nancy Owen on December 1, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    Advent is a time of quiet celebration in our own hearts that overflows out into the world as we encourage others to join us in looking forward to and celebrating the coming of God’s greatest gift to us – the birth of Jesus Christ!

  9. Rhonda
    Rhonda on December 1, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    “you can hear the world itself holding its breath”….what a glorious image! The visual causes me to shutter! The anticipatory moment is intense! Thanks for feeding our imaginations…wishing you a HOPE filled Advent Season!

  10. Kathleen Johnson
    Kathleen Johnson on December 1, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    I would love to win a copy of Liz’s “The Women of Christmas”. I really enjoy her Bible studies and how she touches my heart with her words.

  11. Patti Iverson
    Patti Iverson on December 1, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    I am going to join you waiting with bated breath–and am looking every day starting today for Jesus in my wonderful world! I’d love a copy of Liz’s book. May YOU be blessed especially!

  12. Patti Iverson
    Patti Iverson on December 1, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    I too am going to join you and all your friends, “waiting with bated breath”–and am going to be looking every day starting today ,for Jesus in my wonderful world! I’d love a copy of Liz’s book. May YOU be blessed especially!

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:44 am

    Buechner’s one of my absolute favorites!

  14. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:45 am

    Thank you sweet Eileen! I hope you had an awesome and yummy Thanksgiving, too!

  15. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:50 am

    Me too, Tara!

  16. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:50 am

    Amen!

  17. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:50 am

    So thrilled you’re joining us, Janet!

  18. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:51 am

    Well hi sweet Sandi! SO thrilled you’re here. Nice to “meet” you šŸ™‚

  19. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:51 am

    Yes yes yes!

  20. Margaret
    Margaret on December 2, 2013 at 11:53 am

    That image gives me goosebumps– what a wondrous season this is!

  21. Paula Henry
    Paula Henry on December 2, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Our Bible Study group studied your book Pursuring God’s and all enjoyed it greatly. Thank you so much for the work you do to get out the word of God. I would love to win a copy of Liz’s book. She is great too!

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