Preparing for Peace

Susan and I both observed after Thanksgiving this year how "peaceful" it was. We didn't do anything out of the ordinary. We got up, fixed some coffee, and cleaned and organized the house a little bit. But it was a noticeably un-hurried morning. It felt wonderful to have nothing to do except spend some good family time together.

We sat down this week and reviewed our calendar for the month of December and were struck by the number of events that we have scheduled. There are parties for this, gatherings and dinners for that. And the holiday season for a pastor and his wife tend to be a little "hurried" and hectic. Lots to do. People to see. Gifts to buy. Relatives to visit. Well, you get the picture.

A friend of mine, Wayne Reed, used to be a missionary in Ireland some twenty years ago. I remember the story he told me of spending the Christmas season in Dublin. Families would have to be mindful of purchasing two weeks of groceries and supplies because during the Christmas season the stores would close - completely close - so that families could be together. I'm not sure how that would work in today's America - but it doesn't sound too bad, does it? Wouldn't it be cool to have a couple of weeks to do nothing but enjoy friends, laugh a lot, celebrate life, eat heartily but healthily, and give and receive presents? Sounds almost like heaven to me.

I suppose if I want to have anything that resembles Wayne's experience, I'll have to be a little intentional. Plan our night's out, be careful with our December budget, think through our food intake (more than normal!), etc. so that December - the season we celebrate the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus - really takes on the character of blessing and peace and not a mad consumptive dash to January 1! Maybe, what I'm saying is this. I can choose to have Jesus dwell in the season we celebrate his birth with all that that means - the traditional Peace, Joy, Love, and Hope - and that choice, like everything else in my life can happen with some discipline, some balance, some view of God's larger view of my life.

Come January 1, I hope to have accomplished one of this past year's New Years Resolutions - to spend the holidays with my family and truly and deeply experience the presence of Jesus.

Slow down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Enjoy more. Give thanks deeply.