I’m not good at slowing down. I resist it or feel like it must be a selfish move to sit and read quietly in the morning. I confess this out loud because it’s a wrongheaded way to look at life. I think of how, not so long ago, people would sit and read a newspaper with a cup of coffee in the morning. Folks who kept the home might always be prepared to entertain a neighbor with hot tea and a slice of cake from the fridge. This notion of hurryhurryhurry is absurd, and perhaps it’s a tiny act of rebellion against such thoughts to read a book after the kid is dropped off at school, or look at the Christmas tree for several minutes alone and enjoy the lights. I rush and rush, if not physically then for sure mentally, but the fast-paced lifestyle is not truly what I want.

I wish Advent felt like a really relaxing season of life for me, but it never does. It’s a piling of more expectations upon normal life, and oftentimes I’ll find my soul feeling incredibly stifled by this reality. So again, can a cup of hot tea be a rebellion? Can a moment with God in scripture be a pushing back against this norm I’ve chosen for myself? I think so.

I don’t expect to overcome all my old patterns and tendencies because I’ve written this blog post. But I can at least attempt to search for boundaries and broaden the margins of my December existence. Here’s to slowing down and noticing. Here’s to enjoying the beauty around us. Lord, give us eyes to see it and a heart that desires you.