CDPunt(igam) Writes

Light the first candle (Hope)

Story: I had a very important meeting today. In a rush, I grabbed all the bits and pieces, papers and folders, just in case. All the things from my desk, even the trash and random bits of recycling, came with me. But when I got to the meeting, everything became clear. I didn’t need all that paper and trash and clutter. It was only me that was needed. All the bits went into the bin and I was there, fully there, not holding onto things not meant for that moment. I felt like a new creation, having let go of all the things that weren’t me.

Light the second candle (Peace)

Scripture Reading: “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
NIV: New International Version

Thoughts: Sometimes, we get sort of sticky and hold on to things that we don’t really need. Like the person in the story, we’ll keep every little bit and bob that might be important, forgetting that very little is actually needed to be at peace. We make huge plans for ourselves, and desire more and more stuff to find peace, but it’s often just us and God that’s required to find it. What’s something that you can give up this Advent season that might help you find peace? If you could remove one worry from your life, what would it be? Have you found times when adding more and more stuff robbed you of peace?

Songs: Even though this is a Christmas song, it mentions peace so It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; I’d also recommend Sara Groves O Holy Night album, there’s a song titled Peace, Peace that’s worth a listen.