Advent....
It’s December the 1st,
I have just put my tree up- it’s now or never
My calendar is rammed,
tonight I have a Christmas Concert,
later in the week I am turning on Christmas lights in two villages,
I am also conducting a funeral visit…
two funerals already in my diary this month…
I am planning Carol Services,
I am also hoping to escape 3 Christmas dinners- I hate ( yes hate) turkey…
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The light relief will be the joy of seeing all of my grandsons….
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In the midst of it all I will try to live as one prepared,
not for Christmas,
but as one who lives into the future promise that all will be well….
I want to live lightly as Jesus showed us,
considering the lilies..
being grateful for quiet moments
and taking in wonder…
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I must remind myself of the wonder of it all,
that the divine creator of all things
is concerned and interested in how we live, and who we are,
that a way would be made for us,
that, that way would be revealed to us….
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I guess the problem is that the mix and muddle of the Christmas season leaves me feeling overwhelmed…
in the midst of adverts showing unnecessarily laden tables,
the saccharine films filled with families overcoming adversity and re-uniting,
there is still no peace on earth….
and that is reflected in me,
I do not have a perfect family- nobodies fault, it just is what it is,
we will not share a fun filled laden table, as I mentioned- I hate turkey anyway…
Presents are lovely- but largely unnecessary… I have no need for more stuff
I’d rather make room for the gift of time,
but seriously it doesn’t all need to be crammed into one week!
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Maybe time is what is needed here,
the prophets pointed to a better future, amidst their warnings and admonishments,
Mary had to wait- babies take time,
the people of God live constantly between the now and the not quite yet…
maybe we need more angels….
Maybe we just need to see the angels that surround us….
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How I long to capture the longing that seeks and finds a blessing in the waiting….
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O Lord hear my prayer…


