Grumpy Advent Reflections #1

Chris decided to write some Advent reflections for the week or so before Christmas, based on a Reading of the day from the office.

Here they come!!

‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
(Jesus was asking this to John’s disciples)

Christmas is 9 days away.

Now you’ve stopped hyperventilating, this is a challenge for us isn’t it?

The closer we get to the actual day, the busier we seem to become, the “magic” of Christmas just disappears, and celebration becomes a chore.

Often in the days just before Christmas, I find myself feeling flat and asking myself,
“What was I expecting anyway?”
“What do I hope to see?”

Fun?
Love?
Gifts?
Transformation?

Of course this question can come from many places:

Am I just too busy?
Am I fed up with all of the commercialism and wanting that seems to go with this time of year?
Do I allow moments for the divine mystery to touch me?

I remember being a kid and how Christmas was all lights and fun and magic and love and presents and joy.

I want that again.

So this year I am trying something new.
I am ignoring my usual big picture way of thinking and trying to see life in the small and insignificant moments:
A smile from a child when I’m out shopping.
The chance to sit and have a drink with friends.
Trying to cherish each and every card that I receive.
Making 5 minutes possible to sit still and wonder

If at Christmas I keep my eyes open and my heart loving, Jesus, vulnerable and needy, will appear, in each moment, event and interaction of the day.

If I forget my expectations, and allow moments to speak, then perhaps the “magic” of Christmas will return –deeper and richer than before, not from outside in lights and gifts and Santa, but inside with love and hope and thankfulness.

If I allow some moments for silence, then maybe the peace of a newborn sleeping, the peace of friends together, the peace of God with us, might just a little bit, touch me.

Seems I need some new expectations this Christmas.

Peace friends.
Chris