December 2 is Advent Sunday and the beginning of a brand new liturgical year. Advent is my favorite season of the Church year. However, it easily gets overlooked these days as people rush straight from Thanksgiving to the celebration of Christmas. Yet, Advent is a powerful time for spiritual reflection. It is ready made for mindfulness and contemplation.
I encourage all of us to find time to slow down this December and discover peaceful moments of mindfulness. What might those be? One of my teachers defines mindfulness as “recognizing our present moment experience.” Any experience can be an opportunity for mindfulness. Here are a few ideas:
Enjoy gazing at the candles on your Advent wreath or the lights on your Christmas tree.
Enjoy slowly sipping a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
Observe the Winter Solstice on December 21 by lighting a candle of hope in the darkness.
Enjoy listening to some of your favorite Advent, Christmas, or seasonal music.
Observe the white cloud of your breath while walking outside on a cold December day.
Advent celebrates the “coming of Christ.” When and how does Christ come into our lives? One of the most powerful ways we tune into the coming of Christ is through present moment awareness. Wait, watch and awaken this Advent!
~ PR