The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.”
Never are these wise words more applicable than at Christmastime, where we’ve all felt the changing tides at some point over the years.
As a child, Christmas morning is a completely different experience than as an adult.
Celebrating Christmas with a university-aged child is a whole different ball game than catering to a napping toddler.
Some Christmases have snow; some have sun.
Some Christmases are spent traveling, others are stationary.
Some Christmas dinners are full-on buffets, filled with every fixing under the sun but the kitchen sink. Some are pizza.
Some Christmases find you surrounded by all of your favorite people. Some find you all alone.
Some Christmases are filled with extraordinary elation, others with devastating grief.
Change is constant, but no one way is the tradition.
Whether happy/sad, easy/hard, loud/quiet, heavy/light, or busy/slow, the tradition of Christmas is found in what each version offers, not in what you think the execution of it should look like.
“The rub of revelation is a transformation you’re not in charge of.” —Scott Erickson [1]
As you sit with the prompts in today’s intermission, and as you continue exploring the soul work of anticipation this month, consider what “rub of revelation” is being offered to you this year.
If “the only constant at Christmas is change,” what “tradition of transformation” are you being invited into?
—With Joy
Source: Honest Advent by Scott Erickson, p. 17.
Pause for Thought
“Wonder is an interesting phenomenon, because it’s that moment when all of our narratives and stories about life disappear in the rapturous experience of actually being here. Actually being alive. Being present with the glorious now … May anticipation for the wonder of God-with-Us in you be awakened this Advent season.”
Source: Honest Advent by Scott Erickson, p. 7.
Pause for Practice
The following meditation is a gratitude practice for the various Christmases that have extended gifts and offerings to you.
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Spend time reflecting on the following Christmases: your happiest, saddest, easiest, hardest, loudest, quietest, busiest, and slowest.
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Jot down something you’ve learned from each.
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Offer up gratitude for the “rubs of revelation” each Christmas has offered. Feel free to take liberty in coming up with your own prompts. “I offer up gratitude for Christmas __________. I’m grateful it revealed _____________ and provided me with the transformation of _________ _______________.”
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Take as much time as you need here.
Source: Sacred Pause series by JoyOver, A Moment of Gratitude, session 7.
Pause for Examination
As you read through the following passage of scripture — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (WEB) — use the various verses depicting “constant change” as prayer prompts for your own life.
For every season mentioned, pray about something you experienced that best represents that.
When finished with this time of reading, reflecting, and praying, ask God to stir your heart with a sense of anticipation for the type of season 2024 might be inviting you into.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
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- Click here for previous month’s art offerings
P.S. Whatever your season of Christmas looks like this year, you can always count on social media to be a constant source of cute stuff like this. Merry Christmas!
