My guess is that all too many Catholics live in Ordinary Time. Sad, because, it was only meant to be a filler. One reason this liturgical season is not well received is that the Advent scriptures remind us of the basic instability of life. This coming Sunday, the Gospel of Luke predicts valleys will rise and mountains fall. Advent is a season with the shakes, a ride on the Mad Hatter's teacup at Disneyland.
Advent is bittersweet.
Parents buy their children gifts that fall short of expressing what they feel or do not quite give wing to their hopes. John the Baptists are great if you are in the theater, but not who you want for a neighbor. You probably know a John the Baptist or two. Advent is the city center of our lives, and so we seek to build elsewhere. Lent seems pleasantly suburban in comparison.