Experiencing the Journey

I am somewhat stuck on this whole idea of Advent - coming, anticipating. As I was reading this morning and thinking about the holiday I looked at the nativity I had set up and it didn't feel right. I thought, why is everyone (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, shepherd, wise men) there? Why did I set it all up like it is a done deal? If I really want to experience advent and the season, maybe I should actually live the story. After all, Mary and Joseph are on their way to Bethlehem right now, the shepherds are going about their duties in the fields, the wise men are following the star. No one is actually in the stable/cave in Bethlehem. They are all on/in the middle of the journey. Then I started to think about some of the incredible ways God has moved in my life. I realized, so many of my favorite stories are about what God did DURING the journey - not when I arrived somewhere, but actually along the way. I began to ponder if I have not missed some of the wonder and awe of Christmas because I have not paid attention to the journey that was taken to get to Bethlehem - Mary and Joseph's journey, the shepherd's journey, the wise men's journey and of course, Jesus' journey. So, I challenge you to clear out the stable, put the shepherds back in the field, send the wise men back East, put Mary, Jesus and Joseph somewhere between Nazareth and Bethlehem and take the journey WITH them.

Here's to experiencing the advent season - packing the donkey, following the star, tending the sheep and journeying to Bethlehem!