Listen

As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

Romans 13:11-14

Think

So many things. So many feelings. So many conversations. This has been a week, a weekend, of abundance. Good or bad, depending on how your holiday went, it’s likely there was a lot of it. This time of year is or can be completely, incredibly, packed full of stuff. Full of food, family, company, emotions, decorations, expectations, behaviors, and traditions.

How do you find the holy in the “so much?”

You look for and take on the habits of a hopeful person. In the festivities you look for signs of hospitality and goodness. You find ways to see love and to give love. You strike up a conversation with a friend or family member with the sole intent of learning something about them. You seek to behold your surroundings in the way that God beholds you.

It’s funny that this scripture passage about stripping off the bad, the over-indulgent ways, comes on the close of this weekend. Maybe it’s a way to help us end this week of Thanksgiving, and make way for this season of Advent, which has arrived.

Gina Yeager-Buckley

Pray

O, God, in all that I have seen, experienced, felt, and taken in over this last week, help me use it to strengthen my sense of wonder. Remind me to see goodness. Nudge me to practice thanks. Help me live hopefully and bring hope to your people. In the name of your gift of hope, Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.

Go

Go now.

Walk in hope.

Let Light guide your way.

Have no fear.