It seems every year I end up bemoaning the Church’s complete ignorance of the season of Advent.  First, we get caught up in the culture war mentality which lashes out against the “War on Christmas.”  Second, we pack our schedules so full of december activities that it seems we don’t have a single moment to breathe.  For myself, the first point never made any sense to me at all, since the “War on Christmas,” if it actually exists, has dreadful aim (about 4 weeks off, to be exact).  The second point, however, beats me senseless.  December can be a nightmare of a month for me.  As a student finals and papers kept me near the point of exhaustion.  As a Pastor, husband, son, and father – December lays out a whole series of demands on my energy which seem to be anything BUT spiritual.  And I have no one to blame for that but myself.  After all, I know that Advent is supposed to be a time of waiting and reflection – but I keep bouncing from Christmas party to Christmas party and decoration to decoration because that’s what I’m USED to.  I need to be re-trained.

This year, I’m doing something about that.  I discovered a wonderful Advent Application in the App Store that I’m using to guide my Advent Journey.  The readings are from last year, but they are wonderfully focused.  The Application is rich in Scripture, Art, and Prayer – it’s also deeply rooted in the Christian Liturgical tradition.  As such, sitting down with it and meditating on the daily movement draws me deeper into connection with the Triune God and his Church.  It is time well spent, and I hope that it will shape my Advent journey into something a LOT more healthy than my traditional “run around until you drop” approach.

What are you doing this advent?