In the next couple of weeks we’ll be delivering postcards to people at Kinglake and Marysville. They have a short introduction to the concept, a reflection, and then space for response – inviting people to finish the sentences ‘Waiting for…’ and ‘Grateful for…’. Their responses will be integrated into the next part of the space. This is different to how we imagined, but a few weeks ago we went to talk with people in the villages about our ideas for creating a waiting space, and they offered the same feedback in the two villages: they told us that a waiting space was important, but they also thought a space for gratefulness was just as important. So we’re integrating the two into the installation, in different ways.

I’ve been a bit anxious [i like to find things to worry about] that the added time for consultation and development has meant that we will miss the advent period… but of course, the waiting doesn’t finish just because christmas is over. In fact, the lack of resolution of the waiting becomes even more poignant after Christmas… living through all the build up to find that nothing much seems to have changed. But much as we sometimes think it does, the christian calendar doesn’t create the world’s reality – just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean the world has hope… but it seems this space fits quite beautifully within a post-christmas world: trying to honour the tension between promise and reality in a world that makes recognising either so desperately impossible.

I don’t know how much of what we do I will put up here. It’s not really my story to tell, and the space doesn’t need advertising [and the people living in the villages don't need to be the focus of anyone's attention!]. But we’re incredibly grateful to the Share Appeal for funding it, and to the different artists / designers / chaplains etc who have made it possible…

i’ve not really celebrated advent this year. it’s not been a deliberate thing. stuff’s just got in the way, none of which i regret at all. i’ve discovered myself in communities of people who are already waiting, without needing the reminder of advent to do so – perhaps advent has found its way to me.

i’ve always liked the idea that the church seasons are about rehearsing how to live faithfully in the biggest moments of life. in advent we rehearse waiting, so that we know how to wait with faith when the times of waiting come in our lives. i’ve been spending advent – by chance not design – with those for whom this advent is no dress rehearsal.

i’ve just been listening to the news and almost every story included the word ‘waiting’…

waiting to see what the fires will do
waiting for rain
waiting for fighting to stop
waiting for food
waiting for the coroners’ report
waiting for sentencing

and i’m holding in my mind those whose stories don’t make the news…

waiting for blood test results
waiting for a temporary protection visa
waiting for the next welfare cheque
waiting to see what mood their dad will be in tonight
waiting for release
waiting for refugee status
waiting for it to be over
waiting for it to begin.

i’m still learning what waiting with faith looks like for those who are living it with every breath… or maybe i’m learning that living waiting with every breath is in itself a fierce act of faith.