It's all too easy to rush into the Christmas season, isn't it? Our culture certainly does. Retail stores put out Christmas displays weeks before Thanksgiving. Starbucks serves up coffee in their "Holiday" cups before Halloween arrives. Certain stores stay Christmas all year long. People can't wait to put up their Christmas trees. Here in Wisconsin, we had snow on Halloween, and that was enough reason for some to break out their lights, trees, and wreaths. And then, we all know someone who loves to listen to Christmas carols year-round.

Now, I'm all for getting into the Christmas spirit and embracing the season. I LOVE Christmas. But sometimes we easily miss the point of Christmas by rushing into it too quickly.

Each year we look forward to the gifts (giving as well as receiving), the gatherings, generosity, glad tidings, and good cheer. It's a season that is characterized by anticipation, excitement, and the possibility of turning joy-filled moments into lasting memories. But amongst the flurry of expectation and activity, it's easy to overlook what Christmas is all about.

For those of us who claim to follow Jesus, we say that we know the real meaning of Christmas -- the celebration of Jesus' birth. But even in our own worship gatherings, Christ sometimes takes a back seat to sentimentality, warm fuzzies, and cute kids singing Away in a Manger. None of which are bad. 

But even though we "know" the real meaning of Christmas, the question is, have we grown dull to it? And have we grown dull to it because we rush into celebrating Christmas rather than preparing ourselves for Christmas?

There's a long-standing tradition throughout the history of the Church called Advent. Advent is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The purpose of Advent isn't to celebrate Christmas, but to prepare ourselves for Christmas. To prepare ourselves for the reality of God breaking into our world. Advent is a season characterized by longing, anticipation, expectation and eagerness. Not the anticipation of what's waiting for me under the tree, but the expectation of redemption. It's the hope for a broken world to be made right, the longing for God to make good on His promises.

In order to fully appreciate the joy and celebration of Christmas, we first have to embrace the preparation for Christmas. Advent creates space for us to prepare ourselves by slowing down. Examining where we have misplaced our hope in the things of this world. Realizing that our pursuits of accumulation have left us dissatisfied. Getting in touch with a desire to be made right and whole. And embracing a longing for the full redemption that awaits our world.

Only after we've prepared for Christmas will the celebration of the birth of a baby take on new meaning in a fresh way that will truly make our souls sing, "Joy to the world the Lord has come."