The Ebb and Flow

I meant to write this in Advent, but it works for Lent too. Advent and Lent represent the two major preparation times prior to the largest and most well known Christian feasts- Christmas and Easter, respectively. As a result, they share a church color (purple) a general austerity (giving up 'Alleluia'; simple greens for altar flowers; quiet days; practices of fasting and denial) and end with a major party of celebratory proportions. So, besides Advent being a bit shorter, what is the major difference? Here's my theory on that:

Advent is about receiving. It's about getting your heart ready to receive the infant king- opening yourself to the wonder of a God who humbles himself to come and live amongst us. Perhaps you have to make room in your heart- but in the end, you receive Jesus- much as on Christmas morning, you receive presents. It is the time to breathe in God's Spirit.

Lent is about getting rid of things. Of emptying yourself and removing the clutter of life that keeps you from living the life God has for you. Sometime it's through outward disciplines of fasting- or sometimes through simply claiming those areas of shortcoming as our own. Whatever the case- we let it go and get it out of our lives. You let God's spirit clean out your life and breathe out the things that keep you from God.

So- receiving and releasing- add to, take away- breathe in, breathe out-Ebb and flow, come and go. The rhythm of abundant life.