Advent Day 4: Listen To The Art

Boy, I hurried… I hurried for a long time. I’m sorry I did. All the time you’re hurrying, you’re not really as aware as you should be. You’re trying to make things happen instead of just letting it happen. You follow me? —Bob Dylan

The first in the series of the “Love is…” statements found in 1 Corinthians 13 declares Love is patient.

Us Christians have a tendency to get all up in arms over the sins of those people - nameless, faceless, distant, categories of people… and yet, when it’s our son or daughter or sister or brother we manage to hold out hope, believing that anything is possible. We have patience for what we love.

No expectant parent rushes a pregnancy.

Patience says to your empty hands, “God is here.” Patience looks the worst in the face and says, “God will not leave you.” —Zack Eswine

We have patience for what we love.

Nathan Hamm recently wrote:

Politics is impatience.

Consumerism is impatience.

Violence is impatience.

Greed is impatience.

Terrorism is impatience.

War is impatience.

Advent is patience.

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art. —Junot Diaz

Maybe Advent is God’s reminder to us: slow down, be patient, let Love be at the center.