The day after Thanksgiving, looking out our window, we see the tree branches bare and anticipate the smell of snow in the air. Jesus speaks a parable to his disciples about the fig tree and the coming of the Kingdom of God. He points out that signs will be given and tells them that these will indicate the time is near. Evelyn Underhill writes that Christ never seems to be delivering pure truth at first, yet in the end, he feeds the souls of the learned and the simple. He seems so often content to prepare souls by one great revealing truth and then leave grace to act, fertilize, bring forth, and give light to the mystery. As Christians, we are called to be beacons of hope. We will very shortly enter into the season of Advent, the season of hope in the birth of the Messiah. Our lives get busier as we prepare for Christmas. In our scurrying around, let us pray that we do not get too busy to look around and meet our brothers and sisters’ needs who could require our help. The reality is that they were not planned; life’s interruptions usually come at the most inopportune time. But Henri Nouwen famously said: “As Christians, the interruptions ARE our work.” As we prepare for the coming of the King, what will others see when they look at us? Let us pray that we are open to recognizing and reacting to the interruptions Christ sends us. May we leave those needing help with the hope of trees budding and summer being just around the corner.