Spiritually wise people for centuries have counseled the wisdom of living only in the present. Those who live in the future are usually filled with anxiety about what might happen, while those who live in the past usually are either basking in faded glory or full of recrimination for things done or left undone. Only in the present are you fully alive. Only this moment counts.
On the other hand, the calendar of the Christian church calls this the season of advent. This is the time of year where we recreate the anticipation of the coming of the Messiah in our lives. The Jewish people lived in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah–the Savior of the nation–for hundreds of years. At this time of year, we try to recapture that anticipation. When will he come? What will he be like? Will he cast out all our enemies and set us free?
Trouble is, we already know the end of the story. When Jesus did arrive in Israel, few people recognized him. He was a shock. Read Acts carefully, and you’ll discover that the early preachers and teachers spent their time in the current Scriptures explaining how they prove Jesus as Messiah. But, we know that.
So, I wonder if that’s why we have substituted Santa Claus. We live Decembers in anticipation of Santa and what gifts he’ll bring. It’s hard to live in anticipation of Jesus and the gifts he brings.
Knowing the story and living it are different things. Jesus still breaks through into people’s lives. He does still cast out our enemies and set us free. We just don’t understand it–at least, until it happens to us.
It’s true that you should live your life in the present moment, neither regretting the past or anxious about the future. But even now we can live anticipating Jesus breaking through the barriers we’ve erected around our lives, conquering our foes, bringing healing, peace and freedom.
Faith Venture 
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