Going Postal

Today I mailed out my Christmas cards. I hadn't bought the stamps yet, so I drove to the Post Office to get Christmas stamps. The line was out the door, of course. I was not as put together as I would have liked, so I hoped I wouldn't see anyone I knew. I didn't, but time was not on my side. I waited for 20 minutes to buy the stamps and then had to stand at a table and place them on 55 cards. This took a long time, longer than I hoped it would.

The experience was not great. The federal government apparently believes that 107 degrees is the optimal working temperature in Post Offices. Despite that, customers were quickly and loudly reminded to shut the door immediately upon entering, lest the oven-like atmosphere be compromised. People in line were testy. The postal workers were not exactly full of Christmas cheer (when I finally paid, the woman who "assisted" me gave me what might best be described as a "death stare" when I failed to fish out my money in as timely a fashion as she would have liked).

It was time for me to pray the "Come, Lord Jesus" mantra that we were reminded of in the weekend message, that simple, short prayer that makes things like waiting in line bearable. Advent is all about waiting, but it's not supposed to be about waiting in line. It is about waiting for the coming of Christ and the celebration of his birth 2000 years ago. It's also about remembering his name, Emmanuel, and what it means, "God with us."

When we feel the stress of the season hitting us, we need to take a breath and remember Who this is all about. And maybe to reassess whether we should be in the Post Office line on Monday at 9 a.m. in pajama bottoms.