Being Prepared

I’m all about the holiday season. I really enjoy the list making, menu(s) prep, gift shopping and decorating that goes into the celebratory holiday events. As much as I love those facets of the season, they can be distractive to leaning into the true meaning of Christmas.

So, this year I have intentionally made Advent my anchor for preparation. Worldwide Christian denominations observe Advent as a four-week period of reflection preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas. 

The four themes of Advent are hope, peace, joy, and love:

• Hope: The first week of Advent is a time to remember the gift of hope in Christ. 

• Peace: The second week of Advent is a time to remember the gift of peace in Christ. 

• Joy: The third week of Advent is a time to remember the gift of joy in Christ. 

• Love: The fourth week of Advent is a time to remember the gift of love in Christ. 

My reflection includes taking time to identify and celebrate these gifts each week. If you are so inclined, I invite you to engage in this practice at your own pace.

Some suggested prompts to get us started:

• How do you find hope when things are disruptive in your life? How can your faith strengthen you?

• Define peace for you. How can you be more peaceful?

• What brings you joy? How can I celebrate joy more often?

• We have been given eternal love. Celebrate that gift of love with others. 

Maybe your preparation mode of operation looks different. Regardless of the methodology you deploy, the prompts can still apply. My hope is you find inspiration and value in this message to guide you forward.

Wishing you all a blessed holiday.