8th December
Preparations, Interrupted
Christmas can often feel like one long series of interruptions
Not that these are unwelcome of course: the arrival of precious friends, events planned for, meals prepared.
It isn’t that we special events, but it often feels like they get in the way of the usual routines that sustain us. Particularly things like prayer and spending time with God for which we often feel we need peace and quiet.
So how about this season why not simply try to ‘be’, to be in the moment of each and every activity as they come and go.
Ask God increase your awareness of his presence with you in all the seasonal activities whether they are interruptions or not .
You could do this saying a one sentence prayer for the each for whom you wrap a gift.
Or inviting Jesus into your kitchen as you prepare meals or wash up (again). It doesn’t take music to make this service an act of worship, all it takes is a remembering.
As you tidy a room to get ready for visitors, remember to tell Jesus that he is welcome to
These things might then begin to feel less like interruptions and more like a gift. Being in the present (deliberate seasonal pun) is about being in the presence whatever you are doing.
Activate has produced a book that’s called Be. This book is not so much about things to do but about attitudes to have characteristics to develop.
It’s an undated book of 365 devotions you could start it on January 1 or you could give it to a busy friend.
Either way let’s try to carry a sense of being unhurried from what can often feel like a season of interruptions.
Sheila Bridge is Associate Minister St Matthews Salford Priors and part of the Activate Team.
