For millions of Christians in Nigeria, it’s not quite Christmastime

I was born and raised in Nigeria, have only travelled outside the country a few times, and was always glad to return home. I always joined other passengers in the joyful clapping and cheering that erupts in the cabin every time our flight touched down at the Lagos International Airport. That I love my country and have a lot to be grateful for being a Nigerian is not in doubt. I have accomplished so much in my short life that my late father would be proud of me.

Nigeria is not an earthly paradise, and it will never be, no matter how hard we try. As a nation, we have failed to live up to expectation to the disappointment of other Africans. Sixty-two years after we gained independence from Britain, we are still struggling and dealing with basic issues as a group, rather than as individuals. Issues that should have been resolved remain unresolved.

Nigeria is in deep crisis, and closing our eyes to the problems will not help anyone. We must recognise and confront the destructive influence of separatist ideologies and religious extremism, as well as the dangers of endemic corruption, growing income inequality, inadequate civic education, erosion of social ties and values, decline in civility, opioid epidemic, banditry, kidnapping, and violence in our cities, to name a few of the most visible diseases of what has become of our country.

It saddens me greatly that Nigeria may be a worse place today than it was when I was born in some important ways. However, keeping the proper perspective is critical if we are to repair the damage and improve our country. That perspective will emerge only if we see the good in our history and present, her many more good stories, and are grateful for the good that Nigerians generate every minute of every day. We have a growing youth population that we must work to transform into a positive force for good.

Christmas is an excellent time to pause, reflect, and recalibrate our hearts to gratitude. Constantly focusing on the negative aspects of our country robs people of joy and makes their lives, as well as the lives of those around them, unhappy. Ingratitude toward Nigeria appears to be more prevalent among elites who have benefited from this country than among the general population, but no one is immune from this heinous sin, which begets a slew of other sins.

Hope has both theological and secular meanings, spiritual and material. Both of these sets of meanings are abundant in Nigeria. In fact, nothing defines Nigeria’s distinct character more than the pervasiveness of hope, a sense that the way things are initially presented to us cannot be the final word on them, that we must never settle for that. We are very determined people and have survived both good and bad times.

Even those who are bitterly critical of Nigeria, and find its hopes to be delusions, cannot deny the enduring energy of those hopes and are not immune to their pull. The object of this writing is not to gloss over the Nigeria problem or paint a picture that the solutions are simple. They are not.

As already said no matter how hard we try, Nigeria will not be Canaan or another earthly paradise. So, permit me to deviate from the reality of our current challenges to the hope that Christmas brings because it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It’s been looking like Christmas in many stores since October. Some houses are decorated though far more fewer than previous years. Some churches have been holding special Christmas services since the start of December.

But for millions of Christians in Nigeria, it’s not quite Christmastime yet, and many will not know it’s Christmas until it is over because the times are hard.

Many of us observe the season of Advent for much of December because we find solace in Advent . So, what is Advent?

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. It lasts for the four Sundays immediately before Christmas on December 25. This season also reminds us that one day Christ will come again in glory. In other words, we’re getting ready to meet Jesus, whether it’s at church on Christmas or when he comes to judge the living and the dead.

This quiet season of Advent has its own customs and traditions. There are beloved songs, but you probably won’t hear them piped over the sound system or played by brass ensembles outdoors. Perhaps the chart-topper for Advent is “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” If you don’t know that one, you might not be humming other Advent classics such as “Come, thou long expected Jesus.”

The most well-known Advent tradition is an Advent wreath. This is a set of four candles that are lighted over the course of the four Sundays of Advent. Seeing more and more light each week is a poignant sign of how we need the light of Christ to illumine this sometimes hope-less world. Sometimes there’s a fifth candle symbolizing Jesus Christ, and that makes the sign even more brilliant for us.

I love Advent, this time of waiting and preparation. Every year, I need it. This year, my Advent is especially sharp because I have been waiting for some kind of miracle to happen in Nigeria and change the tide of things. February 2023, for Nigeria, is a significant month. We are hoping that somehow the general election that will follow will usher in a new crop of leaders that will rebuild our broken nation and politics. 

It’s like that with our preparation for Christ’s return in glory. We don’t know exactly when it will happen. So, for now, all we can do is wait and prepare and hope for the best. We prepare by taking stock of those parts of our lives that need to change. And we continue our preparation by doing the difficult work of change in our lives.

Advent also gives us time to celebrate with full joy at Christmas. If people are coming over for a big meal at our home, we spend lots of time cleaning, preparing food, and ensuring that everything is ready for us to offer hospitality to those who will come into our home. The preparation often makes the celebration even more special. It’s like that with Christmas.

When I spend a few weeks getting ready for Christmas, it makes my celebration of Christmas much more special. Working on the broken parts of my life makes me even more grateful for God’s love for me in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Quiet prayer makes boisterous Christmas carols even more magnificent.

Advent is deeply counter-cultural. We live in an age of instant gratification. We live in an age that says, “If you want to be heard, be louder.” But Advent says just the opposite. Advent reminds us that we can’t always get the best things instantly, but we can prepare. Advent makes yearning holy.

In a noisy age, Advent says that quiet might be good for us. And it reminds me of my elementary school teacher, who knew that the surest way to get a rowdy class to settle down is to whisper, and we all got quiet to hear what she was saying. Advent invites us to quiet down and listen to the still, small voice of God.

Just this Monday, my very young friend, Princess Polo reminded me that Christmas is just six days away. I didn’t even realize that. If you say Merry Christmas to me today, I’ll probably smile and say, “Soon!” or “Almost!” It’s not that I don’t want you to have a Merry Christmas, but I’m saving that greeting for December 25.

But for now, let me close by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, now or in a few days, whenever it’s the right time for you to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.