@lovethynerd
Love Thy Nerd
Love Nerds + Engage Culture + Build Community

LTN Advent Calendar 2021: Christ and The Wheel of Time

Each week, as we make our way through this Advent season, LTN Writers will provide short nerdy devotionals for you and your family to enjoy. You can find them all here. Also, if you want more nerdy advent content, check out our Advent Calendar from 2018. Our final Advent devotional centers on parallels between Christ and the Dragon Reborn from The Wheel of Time.

“He is born again! I feel him! The Dragon takes his first breath on the slopes of Dragonmount! He is coming! He is coming! Light help us! Light help the world! He lies in the snow and cries like the thunder! He burns like the sun!”
– Gitara Moroso, Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, in New Spring

Saviors come in many different shapes and sizes. For the Aes Sedai of the White Tower, women who practice “magic” as servants of all, their salvation prophecies (called the Karatheon Cycle) fill them with hope and fear, for they await the birth of the Dragon, a man destined to save the world… or to break it. Throughout Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, this uncertainty drives every major interaction the Dragon Reborn has with Aes Sedai. Some would end the Dragon to forestall the destruction they are sure that he will bring. However, any chance at salvation is enough to motivate others to come to his aid, and Jordan begins his epic fantasy series with Moiraine, the Aes Sedai, and her Warder named Lan while they search for the Dragon. Moiraine and Lan race against the Darkfriends and other servants of the Dark One in hopes that they might reach the Dragon Reborn and help him save the world.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:2 ESV

At this time of year, we revisit our own salvation prophecies, given to us by the prophets of the Old Testament. Unlike the Prophecies of the Dragon, our prophecies filled generations with hope for a coming Messiah, a Christ, one who would rescue them from bondage. At Christmas, we celebrate His coming—born of a virgin, lying in a manger—as we await His return—with eyes like flames, tongue like a sword. We have hope from His coming and for His return. His love was made manifest by His incarnation. We rejoice as we share the good news that He has come to give us peace. This Christmas, may we be Children of the Light. Let us be children of Him who shines in the darkness, bringing justice and peace.

This Christmas, may we be Children of the Light. Let us be children of Him who shines in the darkness, bringing justice and peace.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 ESV





Associate Editor
Jon Campoverde is a high-school science teacher who spends most of his time reading and playing any game he can with the occasional writing project when he finds the time. Jon lives with his wife Stephanie in North Texas with their daughter, three cats, and one dog. You can find him on Twitter @jcamp_over_day or on Twitch @ twitch.tv/Allention

Reader Comments

Related Content

Church Nerds 86 | The Christmas Eve Eve Special

Bubba & Anna share nerdy Christmas traditions here at home and around the world in this special Christmas Eve Eve episode.

Back Row 537 – 540 | Tier-Ranking Christmas Movies & Specials

In the final weeks of shows for the year and Season 9, Radio Matt & Mo have a low-key Christmas, ranking Christmas Movies and Specials, chatting with the Back Row Buds about Christmas Music, and playing the Christmas Edition of Sunday School Answers. Plus, more fun Christmas stuff.

Free Play 164 | Nerds of Christmas Past

Free Play’s “cut-man”, CJ Burroughs, suggested Bubba, Matt & Kate chat about some of their memories about nerdy Christmas gifts that they received as young nerds way back when. They also want to cover the 2022 Game Awards Game of the Year nominees and throw their guesses out ahead of the award show next week. This is the Season 7 finale!

Merry Christmas, Nerds | The Complete LTN Resource List

Christmastime is here. And we like to keep our yuletide nerdy here at Love Thy Nerd. Here is a collection of Christmas-focused articles, podcasts, and videos to make you think, pray, laugh, and prepare for the most festive day of the year.

Church Nerds 83 | Cancel Culture

The Church Nerds discuss shows and series that were cancelled before their time, and then step up the discussion to cancel culture and our Christian response.

Church Nerds 73 | Fantastic People and Where to Find Them

The Church Nerds use "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" to launch into a discussion on how to discover people who may be misunderstood, but have so much to offer - in the world at large and in the church body.

Church Nerds 72 | Hawt, Juicy Gossip

With social media and news dominated by the Depp/Heard trail, it makes us think about scandal and rumors and why they fascinate us. The Church Nerds ask: How does our faith affect whether or not we watch, listen, or take part in these things?

Church Nerds 71 | Apologizing for Apologetics

We all know that one nerd who knows so much about their fandom that having a conversation with them is no fun. The Church Nerds ask if Christian apologists fall into this same problem? When and where are the best times to teach apologetics and how can we avoid weaponizing them?