Advent Reflection

I was asked to write a little reflection for the AMA Newsletter... thought I would share!

"As we enter the Advent season, we are called to focus on God and his incarnation in human form on Earth. This remarkably humble and sacrificial act is the reason why God's children are welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. Mary surrendered to God’s will and in doing so paved the way to our salvation. During Advent, we are called to remember His humbling birth and precious spirit on Earth.


But shouldn't we, as Christians, focus on God every day in our lives? Shouldn't we recognize God's presence all around us whether it is Advent or not? The answer is most definitely yes; however, as fallible humans we are often unable to see beyond the distractions of this world to the heart of life, God's love. We are made in His image and nature itself is His creation – God is a part of everything and everyone. As our lives and calendars become full of meetings, responsibilities and concerns, we tend to neglect our God and miss the opportunity to rejoice in the greater purpose of our life here on Earth. Speaking as a detail-oriented person, I find myself falling into this trap as my weekly agenda becomes more about completing tasks rather than deepening my relationship with our Father. Even during a recent leisurely hike in the woods, I noticed that I rarely raised my eyes to the sky until my trail guide made the suggestion to do so. My interests were focused on what was in front of me – rocks, moss, leaves, trees, the direction of my path. As humans, we are all susceptible to this tunnel vision and often lose sight of the beautiful forest of God’s spirit surrounding us.

Well my friends, the season of Advent is a time to allow our souls to catch-up with our busy bodies and ponder on the beauty of the forest. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are called to set aside time to recognize God's presence in our lives. As AMAs it is our challenge to humble ourselves and see beyond our own interests, worries, agendas, and focus on how God is working in our lives. God is blessing us every day, we just have to sit still long enough to discover it! "

The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:5-7

Photo courtesy of http://forestscene.com/Trails/