Baby Alert

My friend is waiting for her first grandchild to be born.
I saw her at church and I asked about her daughter.
She’s uncomfortable and so ready, my friend said.
I remember.

My friend and I have a lunch scheduled for the end of this week.
She is on baby alert, as she calls it.
Of course, the birth of her grandchild is her top priority.
Our lunch can wait for another time if we have to reschedule.

Today, it is rare for a couple not to know whether they are having a boy or a girl.
Years ago it was rare if a couple did know whether they were having a boy or a girl.
This young couple chose not to know.
They and their entire family will be surprised when the baby is born.

Of course there are signs of the baby’s coming.
There are the contractions that have no regularity to their timing.
There are the contractions that have regularity but then stop abruptly.
It is not time for the baby to be born until it is time.

I delivered my first daughter two weeks early.
My next daughter was born ten days early.
I got so sure of myself by my third pregnancy, I was determined to predict the due date.
I was so wrong; my son came only four days early, which seemed like an interminable wait.

When my fourth child was born, everyone told me I would go early.
I looked ready to deliver at Christmas time, but had a due date the end of January.
I delivered my second son three weeks early and he was still eight pounds.
My fifth child kept me waiting the longest and was born only two days before her due date.

I was not in control.
God was, and is, and always will be the One in control.
God holds the timing of things in His hands.
God is never late.

As I walked into church I saw the large wreath on a table in front of the pulpit.
The first Sunday of Advent was upon us.
The wreath of fresh greens had three purple candles and one pink candle.
The first candle was it.

The hymn came into my head: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.
The four weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus.
A time of anticipation.
A time to make ready.

It was appropriate to talk to my friend at church.
It was right to ask her about the imminent birth of her first grandchild.
She didn’t realize it, but she coined the perfect term for this holy season.
Her way of expressing the state of her family really applied to God’s people as well.

We are on Baby Alert!

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood;
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim, with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
(Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Liturgy of St. James)

I listened as the fifth century hymn was played instrumentally.
We were asked to read the first stanza as the music played.
I have heard this Advent hymn many times but this time was different.
This time I was struck with the awesomeness of the Incarnation.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence.
Be still.
Make yourself ready.
You are on Baby Alert.

Let all people be silent before the Lord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.
(Zechariah 2:13)

Do we take the time to be silent?
Do we pause long enough to be still before the Lord?
Do we gloss over Christmas as just another thing on our to-do list?
Do we become so stressed by our lists and demands that we fail to listen?

If we were alone in the woods, in the dark, we would hear every sound.
We would hear the rustle of every leaf.
We would hear every snap of the tiniest branches beneath our feet.
We would be on high alert because our safety is paramount.

Advent is the time for us to be on high alert.
Advent is the time to hear the gentle wind of the Spirit as He calls to our heart.
Advent is the time to snap the worldly branches beneath our feet as we wait for The Branch.
The One we are waiting for is coming.

Are you too busy to notice?
Are things too noisy to even hear the faintest rustle of His presence?
He is the One who comes with blessing in His hand.
He is the One who comes to save and our salvation is paramount.

Be silent before the Lord, for He is coming.
You are on Baby Alert.
His first Advent happened on that night when a new star appeared in the sky.
His first advent was announced to a group of lowly shepherds.

The angels that announced His birth were anything but silent.
The shepherds who ran to the stable were anything but silent.
The cry of the newborn who was the Long Expected Jesus was anything by silent.
What about you?

You are on Baby Alert!
There is news of His birth to proclaim.
There is Good News to share.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, until…