Image via WikipediaChristmas carols are some of my favorite music, not to listen to, but to sing. When I was in school, I loved being in the choir during the Fall semester and learning Christmas carols for the December concert. One of my favorite Christmas traditions at my high school: we did the Hallelujah chorus every year and invited alumni to join us on stage. Love those high notes, even the one I couldn't hit.
A Christmas Carol (and its many versions) is my favorite Christmas story - you know, besides THE Christmas story. Such a classic redemption story. I even had a part in a small production of Scrooge my senior year. At the last minute, I stood in for the little boy at the end who tells Scrooge that its still Christmas day.
I love using this holiday as an excuse to get the family together. For the past few years, Christmas has been about family for me. And it still is. However, I am extremely disappointed in my family this year (I hope to share more about that later) and I am looking in a different direction with hope. I find my hope is a bit closer to home... where my heart is.
This year, it seems like everyone (you too probably!) is calling me to be present this season. Remember what its all about. As my pastor's wife always said, when hear or read something 3 times...its God speaking and its time to listen. So that's what I hope for: to be present.
Unfortunately, this month seems to have other plans. There are only 3 weeks until I head to Pennsylvania for Christmas with my grandmother. There is so much that must be done and more that I want to do before then.
December days are slipping by.
I am just coming out of a season of stepping back and seeing things from a different perspective and I am anxious to get back into things. Perhaps too anxious. I want to do everything and make up for all those months 'off'. Even worse, I want to rush it. I want to pick up where I left off, not begin again where I am now. I want to get back to being immersed in things so I can take huge gulps of God. But that's not how it works, is it?
I feel like I am trying holding the season back, but it's like holding back the tide.
I am wishing for more moments of kairos time in the hectic pace of chronos time.
So I am trying to pace myself. I hope to spend this month planning and praying about the new year. Preparing my heart and soul for new things. Too often, I think I plunge into something huge without much thought or planning. This often leads to unfinished projects or half-hearted attempts which make it easier to walk away. My friend and I just decided to postpone our email Bible study until January so that we both can commit to it. [In fact, if I have "one word" for 2012, it might be COMMIT] Instead of trying to jump back into some intense Bible reading plan, I am going to give my soul the chance to take deep soul breaths of the Word by reading smaller pieces at a time.
Alright, that being said (and planned and hoped for), I am planting my feet and challenging December to bring. it. on.
Read more hopes for Christmas with Faith Barista Bonnie's Faith Jam community.
Be present has been a theme for me this year.... so what a beautiful reminder to be present in this amazing season too.
ReplyDeleteI am learning Christmas looks different as we grow and change. I hope you find what you are hoping for.
And commit sounds like an amazing one word for 2012 :)