ADVENT

 

This year seems to be on a bobsled race.  It is rushing past me at an ever increasing speed such that I can barely see what is passing.  It is Christmastime already.  Today is the first Sunday of Advent.

 

A young woman behind the coffee counter said to me this week that she is not looking forward to the time in her life when the holidays mean work, not joy.  Something in my earlier overwhelmed response to her had cued her in to my state of mind.  I want the holidays to mean joy too!  But honestly, my spirit was not excited about the season we are entering into but rather dreading it.

 

Selecting, purchasing, wrapping, mailing thoughtful, meaningful presents on a limited budget.  Decorating, baking, creating a warm holiday atmosphere…Christmas cards, letters, notes, stocking stuffers…creating space for my family to rest, catch their spiritual breath and look to Jesus…

 

Sadly, it doesn’t sound fun to me.  It sounds like work; a job that I don’t currently feel up to.

 

With my heart discouraged, I went and worshiped God and then poured out my heart to Him.  Here’s what I wrote in my journal.

 

“Lord, it is a lot of work and I get stressed.  Now we are entering Advent and Christmas.  And I feel such pressure.  To make it lovely, holy, meaningful, traditional, warm, safe, cozy, smell good, relaxed, happy, festive, pretty – and try to stay centered on You.  It’s kind of hard for me.

 

Simplify.

 

How?

 

All of it.  All of it.

 

(This was followed by a time of simply worshiping Him, fixing the gaze of my heart on His beauty….then…)

 

I love You, God.  Thank You for your faithfulness to me and mine.  I need You.  You’re lovely, holy, meaningful, warm, safe…You are everything good and wonderful and enticing and longed for about Christmas.  You are who and what we want and are trying to capture.

 

I want You.

 

You are my Christmas.”

 

Big breath.  Thank you Jesus.

 

So last night, we decorated our Christmas tree.  It’s a fun thing to do and yes, a lot of work.  But somehow last night, it wasn’t work at all.  We had the Christmas carols playing on the stereo and laughed and chatted easily as we hung our mostly precious and sometimes silly ornaments on the tree.  We were unhurried yet finished in record time and none of us was exhausted from it.

 

Once done, we turned off all the lights and sat together on the sofa enjoying the beauty of the tree.  Spontaneously, we began to sing along with the carols.  We were accompanied by Amy Grant, Nat King Cole, Josh Groban.  We ended with our hands lifted in worship.  Oh Praise Him!

 

When the songs went silent, we stayed silent as well and then began to ruminate about Jesus.  “Can you imagine what a great singing voice Jesus has?!”.  “Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus returned on Christmas?!”.  “At the wedding feast, what do you think the table will be made of?”.

 

Holy moments.  Not stress filled.  Just given to us from our extravagant Father who is the giver of every good gift. “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” Psalm 145:10

 

Simplify.  Invite the one who came.  Who is coming again.  Who is always coming to us.  Oh yes, Jesus.  Come again today.  We love you.

Comments

[Michelle]

A good reminder.

I find it oddly comforting that even at the mall, the epicenter of the Christmas shopping atomic bomb, you can still faintly hear Christmas carols about Jesus playing in the corridors.

This year especially, I appreciate any little reminder of His watch care over me.

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Michelle submitted a comment to ADVENT

Me too!

[Jennifer McDaniel]

I read this after returning from sacred dance practice which was proceeded by an Advent "study group" for my group. What a marvelous time we had reflecting on hope in this season. You're right, when we fix our eyes on Him and invite Him in, He comes right in. I'm so looking forward to the next few Sundays. May He continue to fill you with His peace and love through this Advent season, Stasi.

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Jennifer McDaniel submitted a comment to ADVENT

Thank you, Jennifer! You too! Your group sounds wonderful. How good it is to gather and gaze on Him. I love how Jesus just keeps coming. Yay God.

[Jayna Prater]

Thank you for posting this. It has helped my heart greatly today. :)

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Jayna Prater submitted a comment to ADVENT

I am so glad.

[norma gene]

I took a big breath after reading this blog...simplify. That's it. Less food, simpler decorations, say no to some social events, make sure I spend a LOT of time in front of the fire, listen to lots of music. SIGH. My heart just had a massage! Thanks Stasi. Looking forward to the new book (hoping I get it for Christmas -it's on my list).

[Kevin Miles]

Dear Stasi,

Thank you for this post on Advent. It warmed my heart greatly and put things into perspective for me. I wondered if there would be any men posting a comment here!! Something drew me to your blog though and I felt compelled to reply. I've been to a RH Boot Camp as well as the Advanced BC and lead men/families here in West Michigan. My wife is part of a regional Captivating retreat and I want to personally thank you for sharing your life and heart through your writing. I'll have to say that after reading Captivating, I was so very proud of you. I was just so happy for you. And thanks again for sharing how God spoke to you about heading into Christmas. I feel blessed and filled.

[Karen]

Stasi, thank you. I've simplified a lot in the past few years. God has just kind of stripped things away, in his loving way. It's better this way. I still find myself with more stuff and busyness than I want, but I'm working on that. We love Him and that spills over on others. It's that simple, isn't it?

You are so REAL, and I enjoy what you write here so very much! Finally, they have made a place for the "Captivating" side of Wild at Heart on this site. :) We're pretty irreplacable, eh?

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Kevin Miles submitted a comment to ADVENT

Thank you Ken. Your words warm my heart. God bless you and your wife deeply!

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Karen submitted a comment to ADVENT

We are! And so very deeply wonderfully LOVED. And youre right its that love, that LIFE that spills over onto others. Im SO thankful for who Jesus is. Merry Christmas!

[Ally]

thank you for your post... one thing that my husband and i have been doing is really engaging in Sunday rest and starting it on Saturday night praising Jesus and avoiding work, shopping, etc. its been a real blessing and i think its definitely going to help me this advent. I have a long way to go to be in a place of complete peace this season (also with a new baby:) but I'll just keep wanting at him to be my Christmas like you said

[jill dyer]

You know how some days are just GOOD?

Not just nice, happy little days but GOOD from God's heart? Sunday was such a day. It followed a difficult time that required courage, eyes to see, and a vulnerable heart. Your post followed a beautiful morning at church where my husband and I were able to sing a meaningful song, where our pastor spoke about God as our father loving us and how that ties to the beginning of advent (and how our response to him shows if we truly BELIEVE that love), and your post preceded going out with our three kids to cut down the Christmas tree.

You know how those times can go. Sometimes they are lovely and other times everyone is crabby, fights in the car, and you think "Oh, I'm so glad (NOT)that I'm trying to provide meaningful memories!" :-)

Anyway, your blog was just another piece of beauty that I know Jesus was sharing with me because he loves me. Thank you.

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Ally submitted a comment to ADVENT

Oh that is so good, Ally! Yes!

[Bruce Johann]

How beautiful, Stasi, and what a breath of fresh air. I guess I'll put away Mr. Grinchy, and simply focus on Jesus, and allow Him to come for me and my family. We're all starting new traditions this year after being married in October, so forget the scramble, and focus on the relationships! I'm sure the tree will be lit, the cookies baked, and all accomplished with Jesus in the middle of it! Christmas blessings to you!

[Michelle]

Ah...simplify. That sounds so good right now. As a recently single mother who does not even know how the mortgage is going to be paid this month, "simplify" sounds so refreshing. Thank you for this beautiful word. I will endeavor to do just that this Christmas. By the way, in answer to one of the questions above: when Jesus sings, he sounds exactly like Josh Groban - I'm totally convinced of it!

[Stasi]

Re: [Stasi Eldredge] Michelle submitted a comment to ADVENT

Awesome, Michelle! All grace to you. And Father, please extravagantly provide for your daughter.

[~jo]

Oh, Staci....
I can only imagine what it must be like for you, especially at this time of year!

I am also finding simplicity. What a gift from God! :)

May simplicity and the peace, joy, and rest that it brings, wrap you like a cozy blanket every moment of this Christmas season and the wintry days ahead. Then throughout the years to come may it also give you an extra spring in your step, a new feeling of freedom each day, and a heart that is more fully alive.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

BTW...don't worry about answering this. I'm sure you have enough on your plate even with the gift of simplicity.

*hug*

[~jo]

Good grief, Stasi!
I just realized that I misspelled your name.

I'm sorry.

[Sarah K]

Stasi has a blog!!!! This is a new level of awesomeness. :D