Good morning! As I sit at the laptop this morning, I realize how spoiled I have become by having the normal ease of my telephone to allow me to Go Live and send messages and such. Last night, I ran a quick errand, and without realizing it, dropped my phone in the parking lot. I came back home and went straight to work. By the time I was ready to stop and check my phone, discover where it was, run back to find it, the front of it had been crushed by a car, and it is not useable. I have an old mini-ipad, but it doesn’t have the capability to add my devotional apps and such. Needless to say, I am having to make adjustments. The ADVENTWORD for today is FLOCK, which reminded me of the shepherds, one of my favorite parts of our Christmas Story. However, after pondering the words in Mary’s song for so many days, I am not ready for the shepherds just yet.
I am ready to think about where we might be, a couple of days before Christmas, if we were Mary and Joseph. Surely they are on their way to Bethlehem by now! Here I am , moaning over the inconvenience of not having my phone, while they had to leave their homes, pack up whatever they could carry to serve as home, nourishment, comfort on a trip without the luxury of hotels, heated cars, food stops. Basically they were at the mercy of whatever kindness was given to them by people along the way and any supplies they brought with them.
Where are you today on your journey to Christmas? I know many are frantic, busy, undergoing life changes, sad, physically in pain, scared, and hopeless. If any of those emotions/energies are flowing through you, take a moment and consider Mary and Joseph as they journeyed in the upheaval thrust upon them. Consider also the heavenly, unseen support loving them and giving them strength. Take another moment and be aware of the Holy Presence that also loves you and supports you and is ready to offer strength and comfort for you.
May it be so. Amen.