Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Moving Slowly Through Advent

Monday was a dark, cold, rainy day here. We ventured out to do the grocery shopping - dashing from the car to the store in the wet chill. When we got home, the little head cold I had been brewing made me just a bit weary so I decided to give myself the afternoon off.

The darkness of the cloudy day permeated the house. I slipped into the living room and knelt in front of my little bookcase to choose a movie. For some reason I didn't pick one of the Christmas DVDs - instead I found my hand reaching for "To Kill A Mockingbird". It is one of my all time favorite books and movies. Harper Lee is a master story teller.

Within a few minutes I was lost in the story - for truly it is a gripping one. When it was all over I found myself thinking not so much of the story itself but of the atmosphere of the time and place - the scenes on the front porch in particular.

In the peaceful quietness of a summer evening Atticus sat on the front porch listening to the voices of his children as they talked to one another from their beds. He wasn't busy with anything; he simply sat rocking in the old rocking chair.
On another occasion, he sat with his little girl as she told him what was troubling her.

The whole rhythm of that time was slower. There was no hurry to run to the store or get the children to practice of one sort or another, no rushing off to a meeting or out for a quick bite to eat. The pace was slow and peaceful - time to simply sit and perhaps talk over the day.




I have purposed to make this Advent Season a step back in time. We have pared down the gift-giving this year - less frantic looking for something we don't already have. The calendar has only a few important dates marked off. I want to walk slowly through this time becoming more mindful of what this miraculous season is really all about.

I don't want to miss what He wants to whisper into my heart.


Please visit Ann to read more about seeking Christ this Christmas Season.

Blessings,
Linda

If you haven't visited the Christmas Change blog yet, you really should. You will be abundantly blessed.