Ron Glusenkamp notes that “Advent is a holy season for review and preview” as we thank God for many things in the past for which we can truly be grateful, and anticipate the future. And from Brian Draper today:
It’s very hard, sometimes, to experience joy when things conspire against us, or when we feel pulled in so many different directions, or when we are worried about what the future will bring. But there is a joy which transcends our circumstances, which is already rising from deeper within, if we stop to notice it.
I remember going on a course on Emotional Intelligence, in which the trainer asked us to name three things for which we could truly be grateful … many in the room struggled… until he emphasised that our life is made up of many more things that we can be grateful for (each breath, use of each muscle, weather, friends, trees…) but that we tend to focus on the difficult stuff … In my first year on antidepressants I kept a ‘thankfulness diary’ – at least 3 things each day that I would write/draw … it really helped, and I keep wondering why I’m not still doing it!
Meantime, Maggi Dawn draws us into the story of Abram’s journey to the promised land – but that the journey into/around that land was more important than ‘possession’. Some interesting thoughts on decluttering (I have been getting rid of more and more stuff) – in that we still take the things we do have with us – wherever we go … so is it time to think about what our ultimate priorities are, and what we are carrying with us? Looking at Pam’s thoughts (poem?) for today – reminds me of the challenge to live in the ‘now’, but not to hold onto those things/places we are at, but trust in the bigger journey!