Today I discovered a new blog. It is well-written, has beautiful photos and is encouraging and challenging.
I loved what
Ann Voskamp wrote about Advent and it found an echo in my heart. This year I have not made much of a thing of advent. Today we lit the advent candles for the first time and next Sunday is Christmas already! I remember a few years back that I would ensure we lit them every Sunday in advent to remind the whole family what Christmas really means. To move our thoughts away from decorations and presents and the whole whirlwind of preparation to think about the coming of Christ, the adoration of the Magi, the foretelling of the prophets...
This year, with our daughter away and both me and my husband swamped with work, there hasn't been much time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. The thought that mostly went through my mind was that each year I like Christmas less and less.
I didn't want to put up decorations that make cleaning the house difficult. Then when they were up each one reminded me of something from over the years - the few we had when we were first married, the ones that commemorate our child's birth or other momentous events in our lives. And of course, the advent candles.
Giving presents somehow seems pointless when, even in the economic crisis, we in the West have so much and others have so little. And yet as I give some inexpensive gifts, chosen with care, and see the warmth they bring and the love they express, it
is worth it.
One of the reasons I say I don't like Christmas is that since my parents' deaths five and nearly four years ago respectively, I miss them especially at Christmas. I think the first couple of years my intention was just to 'get through Christmas without them'. In a way I think I put my feelings of mourning on hold. This year I was surprised by tears as I came across a recipe in my mother's handwriting hidden away in a drawer... It's true that nothing can bring them back but it is also true that they enriched my life and the lives of so many others and no-one can ever take away the unique experience of growing up in the family they created. Two very special people. Not perfect, but each one wonderful in their own way, deeply loved and often remembered. The memory of Christmas' past, of growing up, of their love as grandparents for my child, their acceptance of my husband. All these enrich the memories of Christmas.
So, back to advent... this is an excerpt from
Ann's post, but I encourage you to read the whole post:
Preparing for the holidays is primarily a preparing of the heart. Because what comes down is love and the way to receive love isn’t to wrap anything up — but to unwrap your heart.
This will take time. This will take waiting. I must make space for these. Why don’t I make space just for the heart unwrapping? Advent could light a lukewarm heart. Burn up everything that wraps it tight…
Advent – this is the season of preparing that prepares us for any season of life — because we are preparing our lives for Christ to enter in — which prepares for us the life without end.
Is that the ultimate purpose of this life — the preparing for the next life?
Is this why Christmas, Advent, unlike any other time of year, glimmers with a glimpse of heaven — because it’s the time of year we’re fulfilling our purpose, preparing for Christ and His coming again? The Christmas tree’s been lit for weeks, a beacon, a preparing, an anticipation. Why is it easier to make Christmas cookies than to make our hearts ready for Christ? Is getting ready for Christmas as simple and difficult as simply sitting stilled before the cradle of Christ?
Turning the calendar page to December doesn’t turn life into this dance of the sugarplum fairies. Christ shied from the sanitized — He chose the dung heaps and entered in at our stinking places.
And Christ comes and cracks into this world and the carapace of our hurting hearts, and we can hear Him coming: I came in unexpected ways the first time and I will come again in the hour you think not, so trim your wick, you there in the impossible dark, and light an unexpected flame regardless, and be ready with impossible hope, for I am coming again.
We’re ready for Christmas, not when we have all the gifts, but when we are ready for Christ — when we’re ready to give all of ourselves to Christ.
So, set aside some time to think and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and to allow Christ to enter in.
No ear may hear His coming,
But, in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.
Interesting and vital devotionals from UCB over the last couple of days on whether we want to be conformed or transformed - of course we would all say transformed, but it doesn't come without a price and it isn't easy.
Transformation requires a continual commitment to being changed into God's likeness, submitting ourselves to His processes and surrendering our will to His.
