Tis the Season...

The Christmas season officially started this week with the First Sunday of Advent. According to the retailers and some radio stations, the Christmas season was in full swing before Halloween. What is the purpose to celebrating a Christmas season (in addition to the day of Christmas itself)? Do we really need to prepare for more than a month to properly commemorate the birth of Christ? I’m sure that for many people, the weeks leading up to Christmas (or those prior to Easter) are little different than any other. No particular attention is paid to the approaching date beyond making sure that shopping is done and family gathering are planned. On the other hand, there is a potential benefit to setting aside periods of time each year to reflect upon and prepare for the birth and resurrection of Jesus. During most of the year it is far too easy to let ourselves be defined by the daily routine that we all keep. Too easy to follow the rut that we’re in and not seek any disruptions to our patterns. A Christmas approaches, we have the opportunity to examine our routine, to think about how we spend our time each week, and to reevaluate our priorities in the light of all of those twinkling bulbs. As Christmas approaches this year, allow yourself to step back from you life for a minute and try to see it through fresh eyes. The ultimate break in the routine of humanity was the birth of the God-Man in Bethlehem. God, in his mercy, decided to rescue us from the hopeless path that we were on. In memory of that unexpected twist to human history, see if new paths and habits might improve your ability to have a truly Merry Christmas.