It happened yesterday. I knew it was coming soon, but had foolishly hoped it might delay a little longer.
It was a Municipal worker on the corner of Foul Bay and Oak Bay.
She was putting up Christmas decorations.
It’s not that I have anything against Christmas. It is a beautiful, deeply moving celebration of light, beauty, and love.
But Christmas is a lot of work. The closer we get to December 25, the faster we go and the more the stress seems to mount, until, when the last present is finally opened and the turkey bones are on to boil for soup stock, we fall into a comatose state of exhaustion.
I wonder if there is a different way to prepare for the annual year end celebration of light. Is it possible that there might a be a way to prepare to remember again the birth of Jesus in a way that brings renewed hope and space into life?
In the church, the weeks leading up to Christmas are known as Advent. This year Advent begins on November 27.
As part of my Christmas preparation this year, I am going to begin reading through the Gospel of John. As I read, I intend to try to record some of my observations from the text on this blog. This will not be a scholarly exposition of the text. It will simply be a reflection on the personal spiritual nurture I experience as I read through these sacred words that speak so deeply of the most profound truths and mysteries of life.
I hope it might appeal to you to join me starting next week to read through the early chapters of the Gospel of John as a way of preparing your heart to open to receive the true gift of this season.
If daily readings in John does not seem like an appealing idea, I urge you to find an alternative practice that might balance all the busy preparations for Christmas that will no doubt occupy your time and energy over the next few weeks.
May you find space and peace as you prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace in the world.
7 comments
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November 16, 2011 at 8:46 am
Tress
Lovely to have you back !
will start reading tonight.
Thank you
November 16, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Kim
Yaaaaay!!
Sounds like a good deal to me.
November 16, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Al
And I thought getting ready for Christmas meant things like making sure Centennial Square (here in Victoria) is vacated by the Occupy folks so the skating rink and decorations can go up (and people start getting in the mood to buy).
I thought it meant getting all of the trees and decorations out in the department stores the day after Halloween (for the above reason).
I thought it meant playing Christmas carols in the mall (ditto).
Do you mean it might mean thinking about the One who became flesh and moved into the neighborhood?
Might it mean taking our attention away from loving ourselves, and basking in the love of God?
What a concept!
November 17, 2011 at 9:08 pm
cheap supra
Do you mean it might mean thinking about the One who became flesh and moved into the neighborhood?
November 18, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Kim
?
November 20, 2011 at 4:33 am
Bill
Looking forward to it. I love the way John tells the story of Christmas. I seem to let my frustration at the commercialism steal the joy of Christmas every year. Hoping this year will be different.
peace
November 20, 2011 at 12:39 pm
jaqueline
what a great idea