This collection presents a daily walk through the Advent season. Each day includes a Gospel passage from the liturgy, a poem inspired by the themes and feelings of the passage, and a meditation to inspire and provoke a deeper reflection on the meaning. This daily walk is meant to avoid the inclination to see Advent as merely "early Christmas season" and to take seriously its function as a time of anticipation, waiting, longing, and hope. By combining scripture, poetry, and thoughtful meditations, this book aspires to embody a deeper and richer experience of the season.

Advent, the Journey to the Beginning follows the liturgical readings as employed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but does not require that the reader come to it with a preconceived theology. This collection creates an open space, inviting all readers to spend time contemplating and appreciating the unique moment that exists before the time of celebration. Like a chef savoring the cooking before the great meal, this work savors the walk that is the journey to the beginning that Christmas represents.