Gray, Heidi, and I shared a humorous moment as we were preparing for worship yesterday. We had made our preparations during the week so we were ready to lead worship, so as we milled around in the sanctuary, 

I shared a dream I had the night before. I said that I dreamed that Gray had been looking for me and when he found me I asked him the time. In my dream, Gray said it's Sunday and 12:30 p.m.! I was supposed to assist in both worship services so this meant that I missed both services. Embarrassing!

Each of us laughed with Gray and Heidi sharing their own anxiety dreams about not being ready. I imagine most of you have had a dream or two when you were supposed to make a presentation and you weren't ready or prepared.

Being prepared is a major theme of Advent. Isaiah is often read during worship as we ready ourselves for the birth of the Christ child.

" A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."  
-Isaiah 40: 3

This dreamy vision of Isaiah is met with resistance even though it's good news!
"A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I said, 'What shall I cry? All people are like grass and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall..."  -Isaiah 40: 6-7.

Isaiah wasn't prepared to cry out as instructed. In the dream the time had come but he wasn't ready for the joy, hope, and love that was about to burst onto the scene.

Regardless of our preparations we seem to not be ready. Are you ready for Christmas today? I imagine not. Yet in a mysterious way that's part of the story. In our dreams where we aren't prepared, relief comes when we awaken and realize it was all a dream. In the story of Advent, the hope comes in that the dream is real!

Prayer for Today

Awaken in us, O God, the hope that dreams of your way are made straight in our world. Once again call to us to prepare, so that with heart, mind, and soul we will wait with joy for your arrival. Amen.