A pastor-friend of mine, Laurie DeMott, wrote about doing research for an Advent sermon. She read an article entitled, "Countdown to Christmas: 21 Ways to Prepare for Advent." The author of the article noted that "the holiday season always seems to come and go so fast, without giving us much time to reflect and enjoy." And then the author gave the reader 21 things to ADD, essentially, to our preparations for the season. Because, who doesn't have time in December to do 21 MORE things?
My friend, Laurie, reflected: "I think the answer to our search for deeper meaning at Christmas is so simple that we distrust it. We simply need to stop, even for just a few minutes a day, and for that five minutes not shop, not watch TV, not make fun crafts with our children, not go over our to-do lists, not even study the Bible, not even think. Just stop and breathe. Just stop and notice the world around us. Just stop and say, "God, I am here. You are here. And for a few minutes, I will set aside everything else and marvel at your presence in my world and breathe deeply of your Spirit."
So here is a new suggested list: "Countdown to Christmas: 21 Ways to Prepare for Advent."
1. Breathe in the Spirit
2. Breathe in the Spirit
3. Breathe in the Spirit
4. Breathe in the Spirit
5. Breathe in the Spirit
6. Breathe in the Spirit
7. Breathe in the Spirit
8. Breathe in the Spirit
9. Breathe in the Spirit
10. Breathe in the Spirit
11. Breathe in the Spirit
12. Breathe in the Spirit
13. Breathe in the Spirit
14. Breathe in the Spirit
15. Breathe in the Spirit
16. Breathe in the Spirit
17. Breathe in the Spirit
18. Breathe in the Spirit
19. Breathe in the Spirit
20. Breathe in the Spirit
21. Breathe in the Spirit