Daily Scripture – Wednesday, 4 December
2013 – Devotion – “THE ART OF SQUEEZING
SCRIPTURE: But the angel said to them, “Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord.” (LUKE 2:10-11)
I love Advent. In fact, I love Advent
more than anybody I know. Most people get excited for the typical aspects of
the holiday season - parties, presents, decorations. But I'm absolutely
addicted to Advent.
To me, the Advent season recaptures the
kind of wonder and excitement I had about Christmas when I was a kid; before I
worried about things like cramming twelve holiday parties into my schedule,
supplying gifts for family and friends, or exactly how many of my aunt's
seven-layer cookies I can eat and still button my pants come January.
So much of the holidays seems to revolve
around the idea of squeezing more events into the schedule, more presents under
the tree, and more food onto the plate. But Advent is about something
expansive, unbridled, and unconcerned with the constraints of daily life. It's
about a kind of wonderment that crosses every inch of the globe through the
starry night sky, and into the heavens beyond. It's about the moment all of
creation held its collective breath when a baby in Bethlehem took his first.
It's about a chorus of angels announcing the birth of the King, and the rebirth
of the world.
It's about a love so big there's room for
everyone. No squeezing. No schedules. No untangling lights or lying awake at
night worrying about what you might've forgotten. Just love. The kind of
expansive, inclusive, and endless love that makes you feel like a kid on
Christmas morning.
Happy Advent.
PRAYER: Father God, I pray that we are
able to release the anxieties of the holiday season and regain the wonder in
our hearts for your gift to humanity - Jesus. Let us recapture the joy of love,
a light in the early darkness, and be unburdened by worldly concerns. AMEN.
Katherine Harris
TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32653 United States
(352)376-6615
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