As a new day dawns the chimes sound in greeting and joy. What do you hear?
Preparing for a guest
In this Advent season we prepare outwardly for Christmas: we hang lights and put up decorations, we bake goodies and wrap gifts. How will you prepare inwardly? The coming of Christ means that God will be incarnate: embodied, lovingly present, in the flesh in your life. Christ is coming into your life, into your heart, in a new way. Advent is a time to prepare a way for that to happen. God enters our lives without our planning or arranging; yet there are ways we can open the doors, and as the carol says of Jesus, “prepare him room.”
Imagine that Jesus were actually coming to live with you. What would you want to do to prepare? READ the rest of the “Prepare the way” meditation on Unfolding Light
Links to online Advent Calendars
Each of these has a different approach. Find one that helps you “prepare the way.”
Trinity Wall Street Online Advent Calendar
Busted Halo Online Advent Calendar
God help us to be …
God help us to be honest
so our children will learn honesty.
Help us to be kind
so our children will learn kindness.
Help us to be faithful
so our children will learn faith.
Help us to love
so our children will be loving.
Marian Wright Edelman in
Guide My Feet, (1995).
“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use our “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.
I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan
Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:
- Children’s Defense Fund — “a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for nearly 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children.”
Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent
Photo: Nao Sakaki on Indian Country Today Media Network
Hear what the Spirit is saying 