A Curious Pilgrim

I’ve always enjoyed Christmas, but for most of my adult life, something has always been…off. Even while loudly singing along with my Christmas playlist on Spotify, re-watching old favourite Christmas movies, baking cookies and wrapping presents for my loved-ones, looking forward to their reactions when they receive them, decorating the tree, preparing Christmas lunch and spending time with family, something has always felt missing.

I’d labelled the feeling as nostalgia, though for what I couldn’t tell you…my childhood was better than most, though there aren’t any idyllic Hallmark movie Christmases I’d want to relive.

This year, for the first time, I entered Advent intentionally. I was still kind of nudged into it, when I was tasked with putting together our Christmas Carols service, but the result was that, during the first week of Advent, I spent a significant time re-reading the Christmas story in Matthew and Luke, and the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah.

I kept being drawn back to the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. (NLT)

As I lingered on that prophecy, the realization slowly grew: the prophecy is not fulfilled yet. Yes, it was fulfilled with the birth of Christ, but only partially. A child was born, He conquered death in the resurrection on Easter morning, but his government of eternal peace has not been established…yet.

Because we believe Christ will return. That means the story isn’t over.

I recently re-read Lord of the Rings, and I think this is what Tolkien was alluding to in Aragorn: the king in waiting, working for the good of his kingdom, protecting, mentoring, spreading hope, while waiting for the right time to announce his return and claim his throne.

The last chapter must still happen, when the Saviour King returns to claim his bride, renew all Creation, and establish his everlasting kingdom on Earth. It’s what we pray for every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer (Thy Kingdom come…). But somehow I’d forgotten that.

Coming to this realization I suddenly knew what I was feeling all those Christmases past: it was longing, not for something I was missing from long ago, but for that which is still to be.

And even in that realization the longing transformed into something new: This Christmas I’m so excited I’m buzzing. I’m filled with hopeful anticipation. Because Christmas is a reminder that the best is yet to come!

So have a blessed Christmas this year. The King is coming!