Happy New (Church) Year!

Today marks a new week, a new season, a new year, a new bracelet. Today is the first day of Advent, and I'm having a hard time being still. Even when my body is still, my mind is racing. My aim for this season of Advent is peace and calm. But already I know the season brings busyness, because I can already see what the calendar looks like. And so, I am working on ways to cultivate peace in this season. Here are some thoughts:

• Curate an ADVENT playlist that brings my heart to a place of quiet longing.
• Live in the rhythms of sunrise and sunset, taking cues from nature for when to be still.
• Anticipate the needs of my family and plan meals, including shopping, prep, and cooking time. 
• Complete my work intentionally AT WORK, not bringing it home to complete in the evenings.
• Play games with my family in the evenings.
• Read by candlelight in the evenings.

This year we are going to try lighting only the advent wreath during the week, and only the advent wreath and other candles on Sundays. The Christmas lights are up with all the decorations, but we will not turn them on until Christmas Eve, thus leaning into the feeling of darkness and anticipation. And then... fiat lux! Christmas bursts forth with glorious splendor as we celebrate the Light of the World!