Have you ever felt like the anticipation of Christmas is better than the arrival?
My kids said that to me recently and honestly…they’re onto something.
There’s something about the lead up. The lights going up, the music (I bet your favorite Christmas songs are actually hymns, looking at you “Joy to the World,”) the catalogs arriving, that stirs more excitement in us than the day itself.
And believe it or not Advent has always been focused on the magic of waiting.
Today I’m talking about why waiting isn’t wasted time, and how Advent invites us to slow down, breathe a bit deeper, and resist the cultural pressure to hurry, buy, and cram every moment full.
If the pace of this season feels more frantic than hopeful, consider this an invitation to step back for a moment and listen again for the quieter story Advent is trying to tell.
Make a plan to join us this season in-person or online: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver
00:00 — A very Advent greeting (and a nod to John the Baptist)
01:00 — Why Advent hymns might just be the best hymns
01:40 — Advent as a season of holy anticipation
02:10 — The “almost” feeling we love more than arrival
03:05 — Why we’re wired to enjoy the build-up
04:00 — Packaging, Oreos, and the psychology of wanting
06:10 — Is Advent playing into this? A surprising “yes and no”
07:20 — How Advent helps us unlearn the hurry
08:30 — Centering prayer and the gift of slowing down
10:10 — What surfaces when we finally get quiet
11:10 — Wilderness stories and the importance of in-between time
12:35 — Why we need space before we’re ready for Christmas
13:40 — Advent vs. cultural Christmas: two different rhythms
14:45 — Letting Advent reshape our pace
15:15 — A blessing for slowing down