We live in a world which seems to be permanently stuck in fast forward. People have lost the ability to wait for anything anymore, and really have no desire to re-learn it. Winter coats are out of the stores before the first cold snap actually arrives. Valentine's Day gets here the day after Christmas. Ordinary time no longer exists. We rush headlong from one event to the next making frenetic plans and enjoying none of it.
While most people we know spent the day after Thanksgiving putting up their lights and Christmas trees (some we know began the 1st of November), we haven't this year. Every time I think of the boxes of decorations in the garage my heart sinks a bit. I've spent months cleaning out the clutter and fashioning a well-ordered home for my family (but not always clean...there's a difference) and I hate the thought of dragging in a bunch of stuff to clutter it up. That's where Advent comes in.
As I was thinking about it this morning, I realized that my reluctance comes from more than the physical clutter. Celebrating Christmas now creates spiritual clutter in our lives. It's akin to jumping right to the party with no preparation. I've thrown enough parties to know that not properly preparing for one will leave you with an exhausting mess you just can't wait to be done with.
This year the tree will have to wait a while as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. We need time to prepare ourselves and truly be ready for Him. We need to pray, read Scripture, spend time together as a family and find Peace..... before we allow the madness of Christmas to enter into our lives.
What wisdom there is in our Church to have a set time of preparation, a time of prayer and penitence, so that when the Joy gets here we're ready for it.
Happy Advent, Y'All!
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