Watching for Christmas

The waiting is worth it: Patiently, expectantly keep watch | Andrée Seu

Illustration by Krieg Barrie

Sally and I pulled a line taut between us the width of Mrs. Chesbro's garden in Osterville, Cape Cod, and drove in each of our stakes. Sally took the non-business end of a hoe and traced a shallow groove along the guide as I followed, dropping zinnia seeds at regular intervals. A last pass covered the seeds with earth, like some elongated burial ground. Then we went off to other chores.

"See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains" (James 5:7).

Strange weather we're having these days. God has put all things in subjection under the Son, "He has left nothing that is not put under Him." (Past tense) "But now we do not yet see all things put under Him." (Present tense) The foundations crumbled, first the twin towers, then seven prophetic Septembers later, the economic pillars. What to make of it?