Christmas Preparations

I've realized that there are two scenarios in which I fail to post on this blog.  The first is that life is so hum-drum and boring that I have nothing worth posting, and the second is that life becomes so out of control that I can't even form a coherent sentence as I careen from one thing to another.

Since my last post I've experienced both, hence the unintended break.  And now we're hurtling headlong towards Christmas, and all the busyness that the season brings.

You might not know this about me, but I hate being busy.  I like quiet and to be alone.  I prefer less to more.  I purposefully try to keep my life simple.  Sometimes you just need to sit and think, don't you?  My natural inclination to solitude is tested during the Christmas season, as most weekends in December have one or more Christmas parties, as well as multiple Christmas concerts, shopping, decorating, baking, etc.  The kids are wild with excitement over their presents, and their wish lists seem to change daily. It can all feel a bit overwhelming.

This last Sunday our pastor spoke about preparing ourselves for Christmas, and how our preparation shouldn't just be the things I mentioned above, but preparing our hearts for the season. I've already started to feel like I'm not grounded enough as we head into it.  I don't want to just add to the list of things to do by adding some sort of Christmas family devotional/activity, but I think that maybe some meditative time spent contemplating Christ's birth and it's significance might be in order.


Sufjan Steven's just released a new Christmas album and I listened to all 58 tracks as I wrote addresses onto Christmas letters.  Here are my two favourites:








And this is my 7 yr old's favourite song right now:

 

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." - Calvin Coolidge