I was listening to a documentary regarding the terrible tsunami that hit Thailand in 2004.  One of the people that experienced the tsunami firsthand, described how the people on the beach looked out across the water to a white line in the horizon with lazy curiosity.  The white line was the signal that an ominous danger was approaching, but those present had no idea. 

From the beginning of civilization people have been looking for signs signaling the end of the world. There have been prophecies and predictions throughout the generations, as humanity wonders, “is this the end?” With each generation we continue to move closer to the end. In this season of Advent, the word of God comes to remind us to STOP and pay attention to the signs in our generation. Safe driving demands that we come to a complete stop at a stop sign and look both ways before crossing carefully to the other side of the road.