Take Time to be Aware
"Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present.
"An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’
"The supreme trick of Old Scratch is to have us so busy decorating, preparing food, practicing music and cleaning in preparation for the feast of Christmas that we actually miss the coming of Christ. Hurt feelings, anger, impatience, injured egos—the list of clouds that busyness creates to blind us to the birth can be long, but it is familiar to us all."
5 Reactions:
I feel like I have been offline for so long and I have missed so much. My job and my ministry at the moment is over run with pain and loss and sadness and lost hope..all at the most hopeful and joyous time of the year. Everyday I am listening to their stories and trying to figure out if they will be receiving help or not. Yes, I am not a cryer and can be tough but it does break my heart that so many families are doing without this Christmas but also that they will be doing without indefinitley. My focus has not been on Christ, well, not like it should. I am worried for so many families and I am tired from the worry. In a way I will be happy when Christmas passes only because I wont have to tell another family that we dont have presents for their kids because our budget was cut and donations are almost nonexistant. How will I make time to be aware? Good question. Thanks for the reminder that I need to take time and focus on Christ and what Christmas really means.
The Lord has "forced" us to slow down this year with being sick all week. I'm not grateful for feeling bad, but I am grateful for the time to ponder Him more deeply and love my family more deeply with my time and care this season.
I am feeling a bit behind after the sickness we've had over the past couple of weeks. My challenge now is not to get too busy in the last week before Christmas. Hopefully I can get the "stuff" done in the next couple of days so that it doesn't turn into a hectic last minute rush (I hate that!!)... We've had our time to be quiet and ponder during the last couple of weeks. I don't want to lose that focus during the last few days.
I REALLY needed this! Thank you! Also, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed Places of Christmas! Thanks for making it downloadable. I printed it out and am reading it before bed each night. I'll share it with my mom next week. Thanks again for helping me focus on the true meaning of the holidays.
Thanks for the sweet reminder during this hustle and bustle season to remember it is all about Jesus!
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