For many people, these last days before Christmas are the most hectic. The pre-Christmas to-do list still has far too many things on it. There might be a growing sense of wanting to simply get past Christmas. In the worst cases, it is a sense of hoping that we can survive it. I completely understand each of those sentiments, and I also grieve them at the same time. 

Much has been preached and written about the counter-cultural reality of Advent: the call to stillness and silence in the midst of the overly-active and loud world we inhabit. It seems out of step and impossible, which is precisely why it matters. If we are rush, rush, rushing all the way until Christmas morning, we really won’t be – can’t be - prepared for it. And yes, it sounds like the parish priest is adding one more thing to our to-do list. I suppose I am, but I promise you, it’s worth it. 

In the waning days of Advent, find five minutes (more is better) to just be still and silent.  Hopefully you can find a place that is relatively quiet. Maybe a place free from the demands of work or children. If not, it’s a continuum – just find a space that is as quiet and still as you can.  You only need it to remain so for five minutes (again, more is better, if it’s possible). Once you’re in that place, here’s what I recommend:

For the first minute, just close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Notice the rise and fall of your chest; the air entering your lungs, cool and crip, and the air leaving your lungs, warm and soft. Slow down your breathing. Then, for a few minutes, repeat the following procession of words each time you inhale – there will be three things you’ll say with three consecutive breaths, and you’ll repeat it. On the first inhale: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. On the second, O Come, O Come.  On the third: Come. Then, go back to: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, etc.  

After two to three minutes of that, just stop and breathe. Listen. Open your heart to prepare room. If a thought comes crashing into your stillness, note it and set it aside for later; you can come back to it when you’re finished. Find your silence and stillness again. I hope you can find at least five minutes, but if you’re lucky, go even longer. Five minutes isn’t a lot, but it will feel like it is if you can do it. None of us is so busy that we can’t find five minutes, right?

Now, I can’t promise that you’ll have an earth-shattering experience of the divine from a five-minute meditation, but I can’t say that you won’t, either! We never know how or when God might show up, which is part of the story we tell at Christmas. What I can say is that if we don’t make space for such things to happen, they generally don’t. And, for those who say that you just can’t do this kind of meditating, I hear you. As an alternative, try listening to this piece of music and just breathe!

There are four days until Christmas. It will come no matter what, because Jesus comes, no matter what. That shouldn’t cause us anxiety or add burden – at least I hope it doesn’t. I pray these final days in Advent bring you peace, a moment of quiet, and a bit of stillness.  

Tom+

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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