Advent 1: Things We Already Know, AKA: The (Fig) Tree, Part 2

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ~Luke 21:29-31

... But:

The people Jesus is talking to in this passage... a group that appears to include disciples, visitors to the temple, and some officials who are hostile to him... he isn't talking to them about a tree they don't know or understand. This is not something they have to do the ancient version of Googling about (which, I'm guessing, would be: find an expert or ask an old person?).

In fact, he's hardly talking to them about the tree at all. He's talking about something they all understand, completely, easily.... something they've known since childhood. When new leaves come, summer is near. Which is exactly the same where I live and where anyone who has deciduous trees around knows. Leaves change, season changes. Leaves turn and fall off, it is fall. It gets cold, and things start looking like this. >>>>>>>>>>>

This isn't about expert ability to read the signs. It's the exact opposite. It's about paying attention to what we already know.

What are the things you know?

Here are some of mine:

The world is beautiful and broken.

Our brokenness means we need one another, which is a truly beautiful state of affairs.

We keep watch... now, as the days get shorter and the Advent candles get brighter, in the past when we sought to understand our own pain and wonder, in the future when we are in a world we can't yet envision.

We keep watch, because just when we think things are ending, it turns out they've only just begun (thanks, Carpenters and #NateBorofsky!).

We keep watch because it helps us to be ready for the big stuff.

We keep watch, not as anxious guardians of missile silos; we keep watch as people who begin to learn to listen more than speak, and listen in silence for what can only be perceived with the heart.

We keep watch, and what we already know helps us to be present when everything is new again.