Winter is in full swing here in Wisconsin. And that means cold and snow. I will quickly admit that winter is not my favorite season. I prefer warmth and sunshine and enjoy the heat of summer, which is always much too short. Winter brings slippery roads, getting stuck, and shoveling. But the long winters we have make me appreciate summer and its warmth so much more. And I cannot deny the beauty of a fresh snowfall. The way the snow frosts the trees and blankets the ground is truly a beautiful sight to see. When you go outside during a snowfall, especially at night, there is a quiet and stillness that is almost unbelievable. All noise and activity is silenced and you only hear the crunch of the snow under each step you take. The science behind this is that the snow traps sound waves in its air pockets, muffling noise and absorbing sound. During a recent snowfall, I was outside at night and reflected on this; how can we bring that same quiet and stillness into our lives, especially during the season of Advent?
Life for most of us can be quite busy, especially around this time of year. There is so much pressure to do, to accomplish, and to achieve, instead of to just be. But what if we pushed back against the hustle and bustle of the culture around us and chose to be still? How can we hear God speaking to our hearts unless we take time to sit and listen?
We have the season of Advent for a reason. This time is for us to pray, reflect, and prepare our hearts for Christ, to invite Him to enter our lives in a deeper way. It is a time for us to grow in and experience the virtues of hope, peace, joy, and love. It is difficult for us to experience these if we allow ourselves to get swept into the commercial Christmas and the hurriedness that it brings. If we follow the world’s idea of Christmas, we will be burnt out and tired of it all by the time Christmas actually arrives. But if we move slowly and intentionally in this season, we will be ready to celebrate Christ’s birth with joy and excitement, and allow the celebration to extend the full Christmas season.
There are so many ways we can live Advent well. There are books to read and reflect on, apps that have prayer challenges to follow along with, podcasts and videos with reflections, and much more. The main goal is that we are attempting to slow down, find time and space for silence, and to be still. My prayer for you today is that you would create a beautiful quiet and stillness in your lives, much like the quiet and stillness that a snowfall brings, allowing you to encounter God in a deeper way!
Faith and The Good Stuff 