Recently, someone was explaining to me how much faster the latest generation of computers are. In response, I asked an embarrassingly uncool question: "Why? Why do they need to be that fast?" But even a technological dinosaur like me complains if a computer is too slow.

Despite my rather low expectations of technology, I should confess that I am not a very patient person. My wife recently pointed out to me how often I say to her when we go to a store together: "Dear, let's do this quick!"

Many of us aren't very good at waiting. And we do a lot of waiting at this time of year. Waiting in long shopping checkout lines. Waiting to find a parking spot at the mall or at Costco. The younger among us can hardly wait for Christmas to come! And many dislike waiting through what the Church has historically called Advent.

Last week, I saw a cartoon entitled "Drive Through Christmas." Underneath the golden arches, there's a big sign: "McChristmas." The caption: "One 'Christmas Joy Combo' -- super-sized. Hold the Advent."

You see, in the ancient Church, Advent was a time of abstaining from public festivity in order to prepare for the holy day of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas, so called, didn't begin till Christmas Day. One author complains: "We have our Christmas early and create a drive-thru Christmas." But it's hard to wait, isn't it?! It's hard to wait for God.

We are often in an incredible hurry. But God is not. Have you discovered that? We want things to happen now if not sooner. God seems to take His time.

Some people may be saying: "Yeah, but I've waited long enough for God to act! And I don't see anything good coming out of all this waiting!" Some of you are waiting to see if chemotherapy or radiation will work. Some of you are waiting on news which will dramatically impact your future. Some of you are waiting on job applications. Some of you are waiting for your prayers to be answered -- at least to be answered in the way that we think God should answer them.

All this waiting is difficult. But even in the waiting, God is at work in our lives. Can we accept that? Can we trust that is true?

But there's nothing quite like waiting for the arrival of a baby. Even while the expectant mother waits, God is at work within her forming and shaping the life of that baby. As much as a mere 54 year old man can feel it, our first grandchild has given me a heightened sensitivity to what it means to be pregnant and waiting for a baby. From the time that our daughter and son-in-law made a special trip to Seattle to give us news that they were expecting, we, along with them, waited for this first grandchild.

Conception is the promise. Delivery and birth fulfill that promise. But between promise and fulfillment, there are months of waiting, expecting and planning, along with months of developing discomfort, uncertainty and even anxiety. Waiting is hard. You recently pregnant mothers and fathers know this. Luke's story of the first Advent is about two pregnant couples, two sets of parents-in-waiting. But we'll get to that story in just a minute.