I feel like crap today. This rarely happens to me. I feel hungover despite that I’ve been sober for almost 7 years. I don’t feel like getting dressed. And I don’t feel like going outside. I’m sure this pleases some of you.
The other day I read that a super-glitzy, super-glamorous celebrity was getting divorced, and somehow this made me deliriously happy. We actually like it when people fail. We like it when super happy people crumble to the floor. It means they are one of us.
I AM ONE OF YOU.
When this happens to me – when I wake up in a funk – I know that something in my life needs to be changed. I might not know what that “something” is but it’s a BIG RED DANGER FLASHING ALERT SIGN to do something differently. There is no such thing as a “miracle” falling from Heaven. The miracle is a change of mind.
A Course in Miracles is the simple reminder that “a miracle is a correction.”
Even just remembering this now is restoring me to my sanity. It’s making me happy again. I’m considering taking a shower and putting on something besides sweat pants. That’s the miracle. I don’t have to try to fix anything, but I do have to look at what is going on in my life, and listen to new instructions.
So, here we are at the beginning of Advent.
You can click on the above image to get the music started … as the journey begins …
Even though today is December 1st, I just learned a fun fascinating fact. Advent does not start on the first of December. I did not know this. The Advent Calendar starts on the 4th Sunday prior to Christmas day, or the closest Sunday to November 30th. So this year – 2007 – it starts tomorrow – Sunday, December 2nd.
It lasts through Christmas Eve, December 24th.
Here is a great description about Advent from Mary Fairchild on About.com:
WHAT IS ADVENT?
Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth, of the Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time, Christians observe a season of prayer, fasting and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope and joy.
This sounds great. Excellent. Fantastic. Splendid. Exactly what the good doctor ordered. Specifically what I need to get me out of this funk today. A new beginning.
COUNT ME IN.
More from Mary Fairchild:
“Many Christians celebrate advent not only by thanking God for Christ’s first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of time.”
DEFINITION OF ADVENT
The word “advent” comes from the Latin “adventus” meaning “arrival” or “coming,” particularly of something of great importance.
I love it. I used to get jealous of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. I used to work in NYC in a largely Jewish office in publishing, and I would feel completely left out. Every day half the office would go out to temple in the afternoon. There would be food, festivity, and gifts, for eight days straight, while I would sit at my desk wishing I was Jewish. It didn’t occur to me that I could join in the fun at any time.
I have never in my life observed a whole month of well … observing the season … rather I’d spend the month in anticipation of THE ONE BIG DAY of Christmas.
So this year – 2007 – I am observing the Advent of Christmas. Total celebration of a whole month of remembering Jesus. I don’t even know traditionally what this means. I have to do some research.
This seems like an excellent beginning:
YOU WILL LOVE THIS WEBSITE. YOU WILL LOVE THE MUSIC.
It has a daily devotional for every day of the month (with 5 different messages!) to pause, pray and reflect on. Here is part of today’s message from Following the Star:
“It’s all about control. The one who controls is the one who rules. Some rulers have taken control by force, but with Christ it is altogether different. Christ offers to be our ruler and it’s up to us to decide, to give up control to the Holy Other. And it’s up to us every day. The offer is yours again today. Who will you choose to have control of your life, even in these next few moments?”
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Love to you, feeling crappy or otherwise…