Simplicity of Christmas.
Two words that belong together and yet are seldom experienced.
Since writing my last post I’ve been flooded with “Me Too” comments on the blog, facebook and email. Apparently we are all being steamrolled by the season this year! But before we give up on the year, let’s stop and take a deep breath. There are signs of sanity returning everywhere. I shared my discouragement with you yesterday. Today I will share why I am encouraged.
I am encouraged by all the churches choosing to do the Advent Conspiracy. I have to be honest with you: I’ve probably been on the leading edge of a consumer Christmas. But slowly over the past year, a new consciousness has been dawning all over the country, the world. It’s not good enough to give to ourselves anymore It never was. The Advent Conspiracy is a great step toward righting that wrong.
I am encouraged by the opportunities that keep flooding my email inbox, opportunities to change the world. Young creatives (and maybe a few older ones, as well!) are starting to break the biggest, most dire problems down into achievable, bite-size pieces. And I want to bite off a few pieces to change the world! One example is charity:water. I learned about this organization at Q this past spring. This year, for all those “extra” gifts I am giving a bottle of water from charity:water. Each bottle of water purchased represents clean water for one person for 20 years. I believe that will do more to impact the world than a box of chocolates or another bag of Christmas blend. Pretty radical statement from me, that part about Christmas blend. And yet true. It encourages me that there are opportunities like this everywhere I look this Christmas season.
I find it completely encouraging that I have spent this evening in my neighborhood. David and I wandered next door to our neighbor’s fire pit for a few precious, kidless moments of conversation. That heart-to-heart time was worth more than any gift, any fancy party, any planned activity. Then we came home for a movie marathon with our oldest daughter and one of the student ministries staff members from our church. Our other daughter, Jillian, and her friend Holly are busy creating new videos to post on their website, the Liesl and Holly Show. Quiet night, holy night. Encouraging night.
I am encouraged at the online world at my fingertips. I sense more power in my computer to change the world than nearly anywhere else. After hearing for so long about the myriad dangers lurking in the internet, it is a pleasure to also begin hearing about the fellowship, ministry, re-kindled faith of people out there. I have learned of an online “church” that meets over facebook. I participate in our own internet campus whenever I am out of town. I have had amazing discussions with so many friends from so many different parts of my life in just the last week. This brings the feeling of accountability and completeness that I imagine was found in multi-generational villages once upon a time. I don’t know if they are reading this post, but this week I’ve connected with everyone from a much-loved high school teacher to a Continentals Tour Director of mine (yes, that’s another post) to old friends from home, to college room-mates to all the people I’ve only met online or at a conference this past year. Wow. When you put all those disparate eras of your life together, you begin to feel like your life has been made up of one piece of fabric. And that encourages me.
I am also encouraged by the freedom I’ve found — through your comments and through my own discussions with friends and family — to simplify. Simplify it all. What we get done for Christmas, we get done.
Finally, I’m encouraged by my God’s timing. He put the right words into me yesterday to illuminate the dark corners of my Christmas blues. He gave me sympathy for friends whose mood doesn’t – or can’t — lift so quickly. And he let me know that sometimes it’s ok to STOP. Again.
Yes, I might flipflop again tomorrow. But for now I’m at rest and encouraged. And off to watch the next installment of the movie marathon: Horton Hears a Who!
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Yep….things are looking a little better tonight. Perspective is everything. I know that the challenge I face tomorrow, is temporary. I ordered Christmas cards tonight. Let the season begin.
I have found over the last number of years, that no TV, paper only once a week – all is a soap opera – you can check in once a week and get the whole story – being beaten over the head and heart everyday without ceasing is destroying everyone’s ability to share in the Great Joy available to us all as Children of The Most High G-D . I too have been limiting Starbucks, why good heavens Marla last Sat I made my first pot of coffee in over 20 yrs and it was a hit at the breakfast party. I love the scripture that says ‘let us kiss with the touch of our lives’…proof once again its the kiss principle Keep it simple sweethearts…..and hasn’t that been the msg all along love your neighbor as yourself and keep is simple….Joyoux Noel asterie