How are you experiencing Advent?

How are you experiencing Advent? I like the way John Michael Talbot describes it:

"Get to journey through Advent first. It's a season of repentance, like Lent with a bit of sugar on top! Then we are ready for Christmas!”

Isn’t that the best? Every Advent I struggle with how I’m going to make the season more prayerful and meaningful. Most times, I overwhelm myself, so this year I’m slowing it down and making it simple. The retail aspect of the holiday always gets in my way because I really do enjoy shopping!

I used to pile on the reading material. Devotions, reflections, you name it, I read it. Nope, not this year. I’m sticking with the daily readings and a few random reflections. It’s just enough to keep me focused without making me feel overburdened.

I’m also donating locally. I decided that my community should come first. I see too many people in need in my own neighborhood.

Another thing I'm doing is I’m praying for others. To be honest, I rarely did before, but now I’ve incorporated it in my daily prayers.

I also started listening to music. I don’t like to listen to Christmas music too early, but my husband starts practicing the hymns early for Mass, so I’m hearing the music a little earlier than most. After a while, I start to listen on my own. Each year, I look for something different to make Advent fresh. There’s a lot of good music out there, if you take a little time to listen.

This season, I want to experience Advent “like Lent with a bit of sugar on top.”

How are you experiencing Advent?

May you have a blessed and prayerful Advent!