Seasons of Advent: what if?

Advent is a time of expectant promise leading to the hope of something better. At its core, it is buoyant and uplifting, something that fills the voids that we, integral participants of the human race, often bring upon ourselves. At its least desirable are “if only” moments lived from positions of regret and remorse, times when nothing seems to go our way. Good deeds remain unrewarded and problems compound rather than rectify. Even the neighbor’s Christmas tree shines more beautifully than ours.

In contrast are “what if” moments that might be interpreted from both positive and negative positions. “What if” can be a slippery slope resulting in downward momentum in our lives. We have a choice how we view such movement. Is it out of our hands or is it something that allows a more complete focus for our lives?

Despite inevitable hardships that grip all of us at times, “what if” also injects hope and possibility into the equation. What if we choose to view faith as redeeming and love as the primary standard for relationships? What if we allow more fluid definitions of neighbor, intent to live a multi-colored life and overcome harmful monochromatic tendencies? What if the Christ child appears at our door sometime during Advent? I’d say it’s a better than even possibility. Are we prepared for such revelation in our lives?

What if we declared ourselves determined to live compassionately in every setting we encounter? Would the world not be better for it? We speak of world peace as if it were a popular board game with winners and losers clearly identified by status, wealth, origin, and political acumen. What if we revered life as tenderly as the story of Christ’s birth comes to us? Would the unfolding events of Advent lead us to deeper more thoughtful action that sustains rather than degrades?

“If only” is a lament we can ill afford. Its credibility takes us just so far. “What if” ushers in a whole new range of possibilities that begin to live up to the expectations we place upon it and culminating in grace in the most surprising ways. Such courage we gain from a newborn!

In “A Ceremony of Carols,” composer Benjamin Britten provides an unexpected “what if” view of Christ through the eyes of nativity poet Robert Southwell. “This little babe so few days old is come to rifle Satan's fold. All hell doth at his presence quake though he himself for cold do shake. For in this weak unarmed wise, the gates of hell he will surprise … If thou wilt foil thy Foes with joy, then Flit not from this Heavenly boy!”

From today’s vantage point, it appears that Jesus exceeded all Messianic expectations. Jesus’ disciples, however, frequently retreated to “if only” positions regarding Jesus’ short ministry. If only Jesus had played his cards better, he wouldn’t have invited such troubles. What if we learn to apply the lessons of Jesus more diligently, with true compassion and with a humility befitting representatives of the Kingdom? Would we find ourselves depending more on “what if” than “if only”? There is no better time than Advent to ponder the question.