Airport terminals, hotel lobbies, and long registration lines are not comfortable.

Yesterday was a long day because it was a day of waiting.  I’m playing with the worship team for Urbana 09’s international students.  I generally try not to travel 1-2 days after Christmas because I prefer not to have to wait in long lines, but I had to fly out yesterday morning.  There was a long line at the airport for the check in rituals.  The flight wasn’t too bad, but when I arrived in St. Louis and got to my hotel, I had to wait once again.

… a day of waiting.

When I finally got into my hotel room, I had to go to another place to get in another long line to register with Urbana.  When I finally got to our rehearsal, there was a mix up and the band had to wait once again. 

… a day of waiting.

My day of waiting has reminded me of the great Advent Hymn “O, Come Emmanuel”.  In the song we get a glimpse of how God’s people of old wanted Him to come, dwell among them, and do something about their disappointing situation, but…

They had a day of waiting 

A day of waiting can be disappointing, frustrating, and lonely at times.  We all have things that we are waiting for small and great.  A wise man told me that the pains and discomforts of life digs out a cup for joy to fill it.  I like the song, “O, Come Emmanuel” because it acknowledges the reality of being in a broken world, but it also acknowledges the hope and joy of God coming to be with us now and in the future.  The great hope that we have is that when we acknowledge Jesus, God is with us and we get a little bit more of heaven each time.

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!