Early on a cold December morning I would rather be in my warm and cozy bed than outside bundled up and walking as the sun creeps toward the horizon. However, years ago, I chose to add dogs who need walks to my life, and sleeping in is now only a distant memory.
This morning, it was clear and still. The air had a cold bite to it, but was not miserable since I’ve learned the key to staying warm is layers and warm boots. As we walked through my quiet neighborhood, I began to think about all the things on my schedule for the day. There are meetings both online and in person, so many emails to be returned, looming deadlines, things I didn’t finish yesterday, and so much more. Despite the many details swirling in my mind, I began to notice the details all around me like the glow of the sun from behind the horizon, frost coating each blade of grass on the lawns, joy of happy tails expressing doggy joy at yet another fascinating smell, the familiar faces of neighbors we encountered, and the pleasant feeling of movement after a night’s sleep. Somehow, these things around me helped bring some order and peace to my mind, despite the busy day ahead.
Each Advent we focus on preparing for the coming of God both at Christmas and at the end of the age when the whole world will be finally be healed and fully transformed into everything that God intends for creation. Of course, God is already here, and has been from the very beginning. At Bethlehem, God chose to break into the world in new and unexpected ways. We encounter God constantly in countless ways. In our frozen walk this morning, I found the beauty of creation, the richness of my senses, the warmth of relationships (human and canine), the gift of movement and embodiment, the challenges and joys of my various responsibilities and in the new day beginning.
May you notice God’s presence and nearness today. God is here. We realize God is with us in remarkable things and in things that are entirely ordinary, in moments of solitude and in a crowd, in the things we see or smell or hear or taste or touch, in the people we love us and the people we don’t.
Peace to you in this very full time, my friends.