Advent

The sky is blue and the air is clear. There's a green tree inside my house and I've got some carols on my playlist. Perfect Christmas conditions.

Festive cheer has returned again after a weekend of winter illness. I was a bit miserable and feeling sorry for myself, despite some delightful friends popping round to encourage me to celebrate the festive season.

I love Advent a lot because it usually involves lots of socialising, and often seeing people who you haven't seen for ages. There's also the obligatory mince pie consuming, mulled wine drinking and being a bit torn in two about whether it should snow or not.

But Christmas means busy. We compare how many different parties we're going to, or how many presents we have to buy. Albeit unintentionally, we long to be popular at Christmas; excited to have something going on every day of the week - even if that's just providing multiple excuses to eat, drink and be very merry indeed.

Is that really what the season of Advent is about?

Advent: (latin) Arrival. 

Advent: "the arrival of a notable person or thing."

Advent, traditionally, is a time of waiting and preparation. It's not trying to see as many people as possible. In the Church, advent is the eager expectation of meeting Christ.

I'm a bit guilty this week as I think of my selfish ambition to be busy and gluttonous. Coughing and sniffling on the sofa on Saturday morning made me realise that I'm not prepared for Christmas. In the truest Advent sense -  I haven't prepared myself for its spiritual significance. I haven't waited eagerly in God's presence; rather, I've rushed Bible reading for more exciting activities. Just over a week ago, I was helping to establish a prayer room. This week, I've forgotten to make time to pray.

With a new week comes a new opportunity. Mine is prioritising the things that really matter; and vowing to take more time out to not be busy, but to be still.