The Advent Moments In Our Life

The Superintendent of the large Christian School... was concerned about the disarray he found in so many of the classrooms... he visited.

Papers were often strewn on the floor,... and the Student's desks... were surrounded by clutter.

Feeling strongly... that learning could not take place in such an untidy environment,... He decided to take action.

He chose one classroom for an experiment,... He introduced himself to the students... And with a smile made this proposition:

Your teacher,... The principal and I provide a well-equipped classroom for you to enjoy... But we need your help... In keeping your desks in the classroom orderly.

Many of you have crumpled papers inside your desks... with books left open... and the pages bent.

Often there are pencils on the floor under your desks... along with other debris.

"I would like each of you to clean out your desk today... And begin the school year... resolving to keep it clean.

One day... I will return... and inspect your desks and the person with the cleanest desk... will be given this $100 bill.

I will not tell you which day... It will be.

It will be a surprise. Not even your teacher... or the principal... will know the hour... or the day."

The children squealed with excitement... and began immediately... pulling things from their desks,... Filling the trash baskets with crumpled papers,... Stacking their books neatly inside their desks,... and neatly lining up... their pencils and pens.

Every morning for the first week,... Every student checked his or her desk... to make sure it was in perfect condition,... Confident that today... would be the day... The superintendent returned.

The next week,... A few boys grew weary of the exercise... And returned... to their former habits.

By the third week,... Several students remarked,... "I doubt if he'll come back at all. .....He just said that... to make us keep our desk clean."

After two months,... No one in the classroom bothered to inspect their desks... And in fact,... forgot the superintendent's promise.

Except... for one girl.

Dutifully,... She inspected her desk every morning... And several times a day,... Making sure things... were in proper order.

For months,... She was teased by the other students.

"He's not coming back!... Why do you keep looking for him?... You look stupid believing that promise, anyway."

Still,... She remain quiet,... kept her desk in perfect condition... And waited.

Near the end of the school year,... There was a knock on the door... And the superintendent entered.

Quickly,..... the students flung open their desks... And began frantically... to clean them.

But the superintendent... Held up his hand for them to stop.

All the students were asked... To stand beside their desk... while the superintendent... Inspected each desk.

One after another,... He rejected them for being un-kept.

One boy tried to give excuses... But to no avail.

Another blamed the teacher... For not reminding them.

Still another blamed the superintendent... for making them wait... so long.

Finally,... The superintendent arrived at the desk of the little girl... who confidently displayed her well-kept desk... while beaming at the superintendent.

After inspecting her desk,... He took her by the hand to the front of the classroom... And awarded her... The $100 bill.

"Boys and girls," .....he said kindly,... "This girl never stop believing... I would return... So she kept her desk... In perfect order.

She didn't need to worry... About what day or even what hour of the day .....I would arrive... Because she was always ready....... Always.

We are called ....to be ready... Be awake... Be alert... For our Lord is coming.

So begins our entry... Into the season... Of Advent.

Advent... Is not... Just a liturgical season of the church year.

It is... A reality... Of life.

It happens... In all sorts of ways.

It comes... At various points in life,... Not just the four or five weeks... Before Christmas.

BIBLE "In those days ... The sun will be darkened,....And the moon will not give its light,....And the stars will be falling from the heaven,....And the powers in the heavens....Will be shaken." END

These are Jesus words ..... To his disciples.

The disciples... Have been admiring the great Temple... And the large blocks of stone.

They are impressed.

Jesus, however, .....is telling them ....that change.... Is coming.

The Temple of their life .....is coming down.

If you have ever experienced significant change in your life, ......whether desired or dreaded, .....you know about ....."those days."

You know about ......Advent.

You know what it is like .....to enter the darkness ....of change.

All change, ....whether welcome..... or unwanted, brings some kind ....of loss.

It may be the loss of a relationship, ......the loss of a loved one, .....the loss ....of what is comfortable, ....familiar, ....safe

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Regardless of the loss, ....the world as we have known it ....has changed......... It has ended.