Preparing for Christmas

I love the Advent season. I love consciously preparing for the coming birth, hope, joy, and peace that it will bring. In my winter ritual of preparation, I read a wonderful book from Jan Richardson called Night Visions. She leads me through seven wonderful weeks of being present to what it to prepare a place for God in our souls, in our hearts, and in our lives. She writes a wonderful reminder of how to hold and be with this season:

"Chances are if we don't enjoy the process of getting ready, we won't enjoy the event we are getting ready for. If we become so consumed by getting Christmas right - the right present, the right cards mailed to the right people at the right time, the right dishes for Christmas dinner - we risk missing the surprising ways that God prepares us in this season. As we open to God's guiding in these Advent days, we may discover that the space being prepared for the coming birth lies within our own selves."

I pray that you are finding some time to be quiet and still and are enjoying the preparations for this wonderful season of Advent.

Your True Life

Here is something from RUMI. What a wonderful time and a wonderful season to reflect on our "True Life." I continue to work with what it means to surrender everything to God. As I continue to explore this Oneness with God and with all of life, I am becoming this oneness.

Your True Life

"As you start to walk out on the way,
the way appears.

As you cease to be,
true life begins.

As you grow smaller,
this world cannot contain you.

You will be shown a being
that has no you in it."