Waiting and anticipation: Worth it all

	Word to Life  Jeff Hedglen

In the fall of 1992, I went to Germany to visit my brother and his family who were stationed at Ramstein Air Base. While there one of their friends, a beautiful German woman named Monika, invited us to dinner. That evening she and I hit it off and ended up spending quite a bit of time together during the rest of my trip.

I returned to Texas wondering what would come of that budding romance. So before the Internet and low-cost, long-distance phone calls, we embarked on a trans-continental relationship. When she came to visit the next spring, I popped the question and she said yes.

First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007) Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122:1-9 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44

Over the next year we saw each other only once, petitioning the U.S. government then for a fiancée visa. We were told it would be from three to 12 months before we would learn if the visa was granted.

When Monika got on the plane to go home, we had no idea when we would see each other again. But we knew that when that day came it would be the happiest of our lives. However, the wait was excruciating.

The Gospel for the first week of Advent gives some insight into how to handle such situations. Jesus, like the Boy Scout motto, calls us to always be prepared: "Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come." Here the promise of Jesus' return is made, but the when and how has yet to be revealed.

I wish I could wait for Jesus' return with the same intense, focused anticipation I had waiting for Monika to return to Texas. But in the midst of the daily grind it can be hard to keep the Lord's second coming at the forefront of our minds.

	Reflection questions • What are the things you do to prepare for the celebration of Christmas each year? • What are some things that we can do to stay prepared for the return of Jesus?

To help us, the Church brings us Advent, a season of preparing to celebrate Jesus' coming 2,000 years ago and his promised return in glory.

While I waited for Monika's return, I prepared her way with letters, cards, gifts, and other creative things. These efforts helped keep the connection strong until our glorious reunion. Similarly, Advent with its various celebrations and liturgies commemorating Jesus' initial coming prepares our hearts for his return.

This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.