Morning Meditation

 

Yesterday, I invited you to get out four pieces of paper to write down the language of Advent  ~ hope, peace, love, and joy ~ one at the top of each piece of paper.  Then, I encouraged you to write a definition or description or detail about what that word provokes and evokes in your soul right now. 

Today, we are going to add to this with a second exercise.  I know, homework two morning meditations in a row!!  Today, I invite you to get out your calendar for December.  Look over your to-do list for the coming weeks between now and Christmas.  What events and items do you have that fill these dwindling days of this year?  Could be parties, shopping, baking, creating cards, decorating, concerts, buying your favorite pastor a present (wanted to make sure I hadn’t lost you amid the laundry list of things that can crowd our December days like the streets of Bethlehem where for the census when God quietly entered this world). 

Look over all that awaits us in the weeks and days to come.

Now breathe.  Sometimes seeing what fills our days (which says something about how we live our lives) can be a bit shocking to our systems.  Breathe.  There are lots of expectations and preparations that are woven into December.  In some way, like the chaotic journey to Bethlehem, we feel tossed and tussled about this time of year.  It is good to explore and examine the threads that go into the season of Advent.

The next part is to ask yourself, does this event of preparation bring me hope or peace or love or joy?  For some writing cards is an exercise in sharing love as you ponder the people who you are sending the card to.  For others, you wonder, “Wait, why am I don’t this?”  For some baking brings joy that you can taste woven into the flour and sugar of the cookie, for others you’d rather buy the cookies from a bakery.  Maybe there are some things that used to bring you hope that you’ve lost along the way.  Maybe there was a moment of joy in the past that you can bring back this year.  Maybe there are some events of preparation you want to set aside this year because you just don’t feel like decorating or sending cards or singing “Frosty the Snowman” at the clubhouse party.  In contemplating what awaits us we can ask the holy question, how does this shine and share a light of hope, peace, joy, and love this season?  We can ask if what is on our calendar helps us prepare the holy ground of our heart for God or are we doing this more as an expectation rather than preparation?  So ask yourself, what can tend the flame of hope this year?  What might spark the light of joy?  Where is love needing to be rekindled in new ways or in old cherished ways or by writing to one person whose love means the world to you?  May this help you begin to make room in your heart, clearing out clutter/chaos for God to enter in as a baby ~ a vulnerable infant in a few weeks.  Amen.