Simple, little things can make such a difference. I have been struggling of late to feel connected to God. I have felt like straight-up, old school discipline (which has been in short supply itself!) has been the only thing holding my relationship with God together. But when things begin to feel forced, I tend to want to drop them. And so there’s the potential for a “death spiral” to begin: The less I’m “feeling it” the less I want to try which means, of course, I “feel” it less, and so on.
I experienced a respite in all this last night as I set-up an informal little altar of sorts for our Northumbria Community Group. Being Advent season, I ventured into the cold rainy darkness and cut an arm load of greens from several trees. I have no design talent what-so-ever, but I made an attempt to place them on our mantle in some sort of attractive array and and then accented them with candles and a replica of a High Cross. Just something to focus our eyes on, and maybe then help us focus our thoughts:
The Evergreens: A co-opted pagan practice used to remind us of eternal life, and the promise of it’s reality made possible through the Incarnation.
The Candles: Light has entered the world, but the darkness has not overcome it! Even in deepest winter, light can and will prevail.
Simple little things can make such a difference.
🙂
Nice job on the mantle.
One thing I like about the Advent season in Germany is that it is alive and well .. albeit for most people it doesn´t have any sort or Christian signficance. That´s O.K. though … Cordelia and I know what makes the season so important.
Have a great Advent season Dan and Co. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Matthew!