Contemplation in a Whirlwind?
Advent begins next Sunday (November 30th). This is a four week period of time marked off on the calendar in many churches just prior to Christmas. We mark it off to remind ourselves the best gift of Christmas, a fresh experience of Jesus in our lives, will require some preparation. We'll need to make room in our schedules and in our thoughts to focus on Jesus.
Frankly, it often seems like a pathetic effort to get hold of something precious but darn near allusive. An incident from my newspaper delivering days comes to mind. I used to deliver papers to patients at the hospital. It was a pay/copy deal. I'd take 100 copies into the hospital and folks would hand me a quarter for a copy. Whatever didn't sell I'd schlep home.
It was a 30 minute walk from the hospital to my home. On the way home one day lugging about 40 unsold papers, the bundle got away from me. As the pile hit the ground, a huge wind sweep through and sent all those papers airborne. I scrambled to grab what I could, but within minutes, the neighborhood - fences, trees, car windshields, gardens, etc. - were covered with papers.
What a mess!
Frankly, this season before Christmas can feel just like that. Out of control.
I'd sure like it to be different this year, because I know there's more to this time than shopping, baking, rushing and running.
What can be done? Let me draw some wisdom from the story I recalled above. If I had been less focused on the papers blowing away and just dove on the ones still on the ground, I'm sure I could've saved a lot more. I wonder if I just aimed to hold on to some time, some focus and some energy for Jesus this Advent, I might find it all more satisfying?
What are the few things you could do (or not do!) that would better prepare you to experience some spiritual refreshment this Advent? Dive into those things and let the rest go if they must. Its okay.
One thing I'm going to do is make sure my day begins with a time of silent prayer, a few verses of Scripture and singing a verse or two of an Advent or Christmas hymn. I think if I get to that, others things can blow by. Its okay.
What do you really long for in the days ahead? Everything isn't possible, but something is. What will you dive on?
Frankly, it often seems like a pathetic effort to get hold of something precious but darn near allusive. An incident from my newspaper delivering days comes to mind. I used to deliver papers to patients at the hospital. It was a pay/copy deal. I'd take 100 copies into the hospital and folks would hand me a quarter for a copy. Whatever didn't sell I'd schlep home.
It was a 30 minute walk from the hospital to my home. On the way home one day lugging about 40 unsold papers, the bundle got away from me. As the pile hit the ground, a huge wind sweep through and sent all those papers airborne. I scrambled to grab what I could, but within minutes, the neighborhood - fences, trees, car windshields, gardens, etc. - were covered with papers.
What a mess!
Frankly, this season before Christmas can feel just like that. Out of control.
I'd sure like it to be different this year, because I know there's more to this time than shopping, baking, rushing and running.
What can be done? Let me draw some wisdom from the story I recalled above. If I had been less focused on the papers blowing away and just dove on the ones still on the ground, I'm sure I could've saved a lot more. I wonder if I just aimed to hold on to some time, some focus and some energy for Jesus this Advent, I might find it all more satisfying?
What are the few things you could do (or not do!) that would better prepare you to experience some spiritual refreshment this Advent? Dive into those things and let the rest go if they must. Its okay.
One thing I'm going to do is make sure my day begins with a time of silent prayer, a few verses of Scripture and singing a verse or two of an Advent or Christmas hymn. I think if I get to that, others things can blow by. Its okay.
What do you really long for in the days ahead? Everything isn't possible, but something is. What will you dive on?
posted by Pastor Bill | 11:32 AM
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