Advent has challenges for us, which seem to increase every year. I remember over 40 years ago one of my first “children’s sermons” at the first church I served in Arkansas. I wasn’t too savvy about such things, and began the sermon on 1 Advent with a question: “Who can tell me what season this is?” A young nimrod raised his hand, and offered “It’s duck season, Father!” Well, I couldn’t argue with that, but I never appreciated the practice of getting up before dawn to sit in the cold waiting for a duck to pass within reach of your shotgun. It always seemed just an excuse to try to keep yourself warm by imbibing other “spirits”.
I later realized he had given a spiritual answer after all – Advent really is “duck” season. Continue reading “Reflections on the Season of Advent”