A Discombobulating Morning (12/4/2023)

Yesterday, I was struggling a tad after a busy few days. But I brushed it off as “no big deal” and told myself to put on my big girl slippers and get on with the day. I did both. However, I just wasn’t myself. At Church I tried to help a young woman on crutches use the lift rather than the stairs. But it was locked. And try as I might, I couldn’t get it to open. I had to get help. When it came time for the readings at mass, I started to sit down when I noticed there was no one there to read. Immediately I wondered was I down for lecturing on December 3. I stood back up, but someone else had risen to the challenge. After church, I joined friends downtown for breakfast, but I was so challenged to parallel park because drivers kept zooming past me on my left rather than stay behind me until I parked. By noon, I was ready to call it a day and go back to bed. But with all humility, I told myself, “Girl, sometimes you’ll have that!”

As the day progressed, I found that it wasn’t my week to lector. I had that wrong. So, that didn’t actually belong on my spreadsheet of “things amiss.” But before I could do the happy dance celebrating that it wasn’t as bad as I thought, I re-read my scripture reading and reflection and realized that I had assigned it the wrong date. Oh, my, I told myself, you’re falling apart, girl.

So, I decided to look ahead to today’s readings. And there it was. "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” I immediately uttered a prayer of thanksgiving and one of contrition. I thanked the LORD for going out of His way to remind me of the reason for this season of Advent and that the two most important gifts we are to bring to the manger are our love and awe. And that awe is only possible with true humility. I thanked the LORD for reminding me in subtle ways to work on my humility. And I apologized to the LORD for being so slow in picking up the clues.

Then I spent the rest of the day resting and thinking about the season of Advent and how I would prepare anew for the celebration of Christmas. I considered my discovery of the day, the need to work on my humility. And I recalled my Christmases past, especially those as a child. I prayed to the LORD for a restoration of that awe and wonder so that I might better receive the LORD’s coming not only on Christmas but every day.

As we begin our Advent journey to the manger, may we prayerfully brush off our humility and awe at the eternal power and presence of the LORD, signs of the LORD’s unfathomable love for us. May we take time to prayerfully recall our childhood Christmases and seek to celebrate this coming one with the same wonder and love. May we realize that the journey isn’t all about us but rather recognizing the LORD’s love for us that sent His Son, Jesus, to dwell among us. May we arrive at that holy day full of praise for our LORD with hearts full of love.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.