Advent It seems that all our lives are consumed with waiting. Not long ago, Mike and I began waiting for a visit from our family; the waiting ended, our family came, and now - so quickly! - they've gone. Now we are waiting again, to see them at Christmas. Though content with our lives as they stand, we always seem to be waiting for What's Next. Advent is just such a time of waiting, but it celebrates a final end to waiting. Just as the ancient Hebrews waited four centuries between the last words of the prophet Malachi and the first words of the prophet John, we now wait for all our hopes and longings to be satisfied in Jesus' return and the establishment of new heavens and a new earth. Amazing!