Virtual Retreating

I'm joining in the RevGals Virtual Advent retreat this morning a bit late, so I am combing my response to the first two reflections. If you want to join in, go here.

Since this is the first day of the month, I did my accounts before joining the retreat. We don't usually think of Advent as season that emphasizes accounting in the way that Lent is. But I think Advent nudges us to do some accounting in our hearts in order to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ.

The powerfully poignant opening solo of Handel's Messiah, "Comfort Ye", emphasizes the twin Advent themes of repentance and redemption. I like the way The Message words these verses:

"Comfort, oh comfort my people," says your God. "Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear That she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of—forgiven! She's been punished enough and more than enough, and now it's over and done with."
Isaiah 40: 1-2

Today I am also preparing Thursday's lesson for my Bible Study Discussion group. Our memory verse this week, appropriately enough is:

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

I am called to humble myself and seek God's face in this season of Advent and pray for that redemption promised in the coming of Christ. Comfort my people, comfort me with the knowledge that our sins are taken care of--forgiven!

One of the ways in which I am 'making straight in the desert the highway of our God' is by simplifying my preparations for Christmas this year. We're cutting back on the gift-giving, house decorating and seasonal "busy-ness" by not exchanging gifts with other adults in the family, winnowing that old stash of Christmas stuff that I used to put all around the house and vowing not to try to out-Martha-Martha (Stewart, that is) in the hospitality department. Setting out a few take-out dishes and taking some shortcuts reduces the stress of being with family and friends.