Advent started out as a melody that I recorded during the summer, but I didn’t re-visit it until the following fall. Sometimes I just shelve things and forget about them as life hums along. When I listened to it again, the first thing I thought about was how nice it would sound with a cello in the mix. I was also feeling a little “adventy” myself at the time.
This happened while I was still in the middle of a wilderness experience that I hope to never have to repeat. My own struggles were weighing heavily on my heart as the weather became lousier and Christmastime drew closer.
I made time to sit down and figure out how to incorporate and arrange a cello with my piano, and the whole process was one ginormous headache. However, I really liked what I was hearing so I kept going until it was finished. This was the first time I ever actually orchestrated something, and it was through this that I decided to pursue that further.
I’m not particularly proud of the finished product now, but back then it was music to my ears. I couldn’t believe that something like that could come out of me. It opened an entirely new door to what I could accomplish musically.
More-importantly, it gave me a small affirmation that perhaps what I’ve always perceived to be part of my calling wasn’t just in my head after all. It’s funny how something so profound came out of something so insignificant. Yet, that’s how God prefers to do things most of the time. The trick to catching and hearing that was to listen, to trust, and to not give up.
Advent became a living prayer that led me deeper into the spirit of the season, and that made Christmas all the more meaningful that year.
Advent is a bittersweet season for me. On one hand, we anticipate our savior, our redeemer and our friend. Yet, we also long for him because of our need to be saved and redeemed. We also grieve because he was born to die because of his love for all of us. Yet we rejoice because he rose again, which turns all of that tragedy into triumph that allows to celebrate on Christmas day.
I hope you enjoy it, despite its flaws. If not for Advent, I doubt the other songs, and opportunities that came from them, would exist today.
If you’re hearing the gentle whisper of God, especially in times of difficulty, listen even more. You never know where God is going lead you.