Advent reminds us that we can't stop wars from happening, that we can't prevent people from murdering other people, that we can't cure every disease, that we can't prevent every suffering, that we can't prevent every (or any) natural disaster. Like when we witness a hurricane or a tornado tearing through our feeble human-made constructions, Advent is a time when we are humbled by the fact that so very, very little is really in our control.