I must admit, I'm struggling again today. We had our office Christmas luncheon; my free time reading has included articles like "White Women Need to Get Their Shit Together" and "Roy Moore's White Female Voters are Are Part of a Long History of Internalized Misogyny." And honestly, I'm trying to figure out how those very true and self-convicting statements pertain to Advent, to this time of anticipating Christ's arrival in the world. Because somewhere in my heart, I feel like they do. I also don't feel like I have enough energy to tackle that with the mind, heart, and soul work that it requires tonight. But I aim to challenge myself to do that in the coming days.

Tonight, I keep coming back to hymns.

Let every heart prepare Him room.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

Lo, flower whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air--dispel in glorious splendor, the darkness everywhere.

Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish.

Alleluia, everlasting God come down.

[Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash]