"Seen without the proper perspective, Advent can look like a big, fat bait-and-switch. Think about it: it’s the beginning of winter. It’s cold. Night falls earlier every day. Then a few candles and a splash of violet appear around the altar, signaling that it’ll all be over soon. Except it isn’t. After four weeks of anticipation, Christmas comes and goes, leaving you to face the January chills and the Februrary blahs. And then, if things weren’t grim enough, Lent starts."

Read more: Max Lindenman, Diary of a Wimpy Catholic, Patheos