I want to do stockings again this year.
We'd sort of let that fun, first morning tradition lapse at our house for the past few years. But this year - O glorious morning of wonder - there will be a full house waking up together, complete with the not-so-sleepy eagerness of little children to rouse us from our beds and drag us downstairs way too early and just in time.
So already, I'm collecting to stuff the stockings. Adding to the items. Gathering, piling, stashing.
And....subtracting. Adding to the trinkets. Subtracting to the "needed things" to do between now and Christmas. The last thing I want to happen is a last minute, thoughtless cramming. There's nothing worse than last minute, thoughtless cramming at Christmas.
Stockings.
Souls.
And it takes some subtraction to make it happen. What will I NOT do this Christmas in order to make it holy and hushed and real? Not just for me, inside of me, but for my family.
It's the calendar that gets the first purging. The calendar - my friend and foe, all in one fell swooping buzz of it. What will I NOT write there, so Christmas can be holy and hushed and real?
Then the budget. What will I NOT buy, so Christmas can be holy and hushed and real?
Then my preoccuative brain space. What will I choose NOT to think about, dwell on, mull over, worry about, feel sorry for myself for, so that Christmas can be holy and hushed and real?
How can I make sure that what I truly value and love and live for is properly celebrated this season? The holy things. The hushed things. The real things.
If stockings are important, then how do I do the Advent Subtraction to make it so?
And my people. If loving them is important....
And if perhaps one of the best things I can give to those I love is my passionately relaxed and full attention...what Advent Subtraction do I need to be sure is done, so that I can be fully present this Christmas?
And then, just now, it strikes me. What profound Advent Subtraction had to happen for Jesus to come and be fully present with us? All that He did NOT do or demand or collect for Himself in order to move from Heaven to Earth. Instead He "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:5-11) totally. One giagantic cosmic taking away from....so Christmas could happen....
Holy...Hushed....Real.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thoughts on Thinking
Some quotes from stuff I'm reading right now that's "informing my thinking".
From The Rest of God by Mark Buchannan
"The wisdom of the wise is to give thought to their ways. They think about where they're going. But the folly of fools is deception. They keep lying to themselves.
"Wise people ask, Does this path I'm walking lead to a place I want to go? If I keep heading this way, will I like where I arrive?.....Consider your thoughts and attitudes, the pattern of them, their shape and drift. Are they leading you where you want to go? Plot their trajectory: will they lead you in a place you care to live?....Invite the Spirit to search you (Psalm 139:23-24) and reveal one habitual thought, one attitude of your heart, that is misleading you." Page 40-41
From God is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg
"In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely neutral.
"Every thought is either enabling and strengthening you to be able to cope with reality to live a kingdom kind of life, or robbing you of that life. Every thought is -- at least to a small extent -- God-breathed or God-avoidant; leading to death or leading toward life." Page 90
This week, I've done what Buchannan suggested. Asked God to show me, and He has. It's quite amazing to sit back and take stock of what's going on in my brain most of the time. Even when I'm not really aware of it. Humbling, sobering. And I'm asking myself the hard questions. Am I headed where I want to live? Where do I want to live? Not in negativity and insecurity, that's for sure. But too often that's where my train of thought is chugging. The scenery that flashes past as the train speeds along is dreary, sad, black and white. Is this really where I want to go?
And then, Ortberg's idea...that each thought takes us in a kind of direction. Do my thoughts strengthen and enable me to live the life God has called me to?
Sometimes it's essential to get off the train. Catch another one in the other direction. Let the spiritual power of my thoughts push me, pull me toward brighter things, powerful things, things God has dreamed for me, planned long ago for me to be, for me to do.
Joyful thinking.
Saturday morning cuddle with a pj'd three year old who's conversation is simple and unfettered and full of unconditional love for sleepy, Saturday morning Gramma.
Being part of a community marking a move of God-like porportions in the life of a rescued treasure.
Napping.
Out with friends who give to combined kingdom efforts, at great personal cost.
God breathes Himself into every moment.
Taking every thought captive.
Thinking.
From The Rest of God by Mark Buchannan
"The wisdom of the wise is to give thought to their ways. They think about where they're going. But the folly of fools is deception. They keep lying to themselves.
"Wise people ask, Does this path I'm walking lead to a place I want to go? If I keep heading this way, will I like where I arrive?.....Consider your thoughts and attitudes, the pattern of them, their shape and drift. Are they leading you where you want to go? Plot their trajectory: will they lead you in a place you care to live?....Invite the Spirit to search you (Psalm 139:23-24) and reveal one habitual thought, one attitude of your heart, that is misleading you." Page 40-41
From God is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg
"In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely neutral.
"Every thought is either enabling and strengthening you to be able to cope with reality to live a kingdom kind of life, or robbing you of that life. Every thought is -- at least to a small extent -- God-breathed or God-avoidant; leading to death or leading toward life." Page 90
This week, I've done what Buchannan suggested. Asked God to show me, and He has. It's quite amazing to sit back and take stock of what's going on in my brain most of the time. Even when I'm not really aware of it. Humbling, sobering. And I'm asking myself the hard questions. Am I headed where I want to live? Where do I want to live? Not in negativity and insecurity, that's for sure. But too often that's where my train of thought is chugging. The scenery that flashes past as the train speeds along is dreary, sad, black and white. Is this really where I want to go?
And then, Ortberg's idea...that each thought takes us in a kind of direction. Do my thoughts strengthen and enable me to live the life God has called me to?
Sometimes it's essential to get off the train. Catch another one in the other direction. Let the spiritual power of my thoughts push me, pull me toward brighter things, powerful things, things God has dreamed for me, planned long ago for me to be, for me to do.
Joyful thinking.
Saturday morning cuddle with a pj'd three year old who's conversation is simple and unfettered and full of unconditional love for sleepy, Saturday morning Gramma.
Being part of a community marking a move of God-like porportions in the life of a rescued treasure.
Napping.
Out with friends who give to combined kingdom efforts, at great personal cost.
God breathes Himself into every moment.
Taking every thought captive.
Thinking.
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