Seven days and counting

For the past few mornings I've woken to a few repeated statements. "Argh, it's too cold to get out of bed!" and " It's ______ days to Christmas!"

Somehow, I feel caught between the excited momentum of the season and the bitter cold that makes me want to hibernate. Do I want to make Christmas cookies or dream about Sugar Plums? Do I want to madly decorate my home with lights and garland or would I prefer to drive around looking at my neighbors efforts?

Either way, for the first time in in a very long time, there is the time to consider, plan and re-plan the events of the holiday season. This weekend I will play at my favorite coffee shop on Saturday evening, Sunday we will hold our church Christmas program and lunch, and Christmas Eve I will share a devotional at the candlelight service at 11pm. The few things I have planned are ones that I enjoy greatly! Music, kids and family, and spiritual enrichment are aspects of life that I would put on my necessary list.

All this consideration of what is to be and what isn't makes me ponder this universal question: " What is necessary in my celebration of Christmas and Advent?"

Biblically speaking, I suppose that necessity in the celebration could be wrapped up in the act, focus and attention of "Following the Star." The star that led the shepherds and wise men to Christ on that first Christmas allowed them to experience hope, joy, tangible contact with God, and the fruition of promises and prophesy of years long past. The star led them, and can still lead us, to the one who can help us understand what the necessary things in life truly are.

I love the surprises and traditions of the advent season. I have memories of baking cookies, waiting for hard tack candy to get to the perfect temperature to pour and cut, messy haired toddlers wearing footie pj's as they blink in amazement at the wonder of lights on a Christmas tree and the contented joy of cuddling on the sofa after all the gifts are open and favorite toys, books and treasures are being played with.

These memories most treasured because of the people that are a part of them, the unity and love that these memories bring to the surface and the Christ child that made all these necessities possible through the simple light of a twinkling star.

So in this last week of Advent, I keep asking myself another question. "Am I following the star?" As I move through moments of joy, family, music and gifts, may I focus my attention to the star and child that made all these blessings necessities in my Christmas season - thank you for the star, thank you Christ Emmanuel.

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