Running To Stand Still

Wow... Its nearly December. Which means I've been writing this blog, on and off, for almost a year now. It doesn't seem like that long... but then again, it seems like an eternity, because my feet haven't really touched the ground in that time.  If I had to come up with a picture of this year, I think it would be of me on one of those horizontal escalators, trying to go against the tide, running as hard as I can, just to stand still!

If that sounds like I'm complaining, then I'm sorry. Most of the chaos and hard work has been completely worthwhile - caused by building work, by trips away and time with family, by challenging new jobs and by exciting changes at church. Other stuff has been for a worthwhile result, particularly around Sarah's operation - not exactly run, definately chaotic, but definately worth while so she can avoid recurring pain and discomfort. I'm certainly not complaining about the outcomes, even at the time it was somewhat painful to get there.

But what I am going to complain about is the headlong rush we now seem to be in towards Christmas. Yes, the year has gone by quickly, but at the moment, its not even December (not for another 14 hours anyway). Advent doesn't start until Sunday (or is that Saturday night - no doubt Keith Neville will have the answer), and yet, we've been inundated with Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, since about the end of September, and its driving me slightly mad...

Do we really need Christmas decorations already? Christmas songs on the radio? Christmas meals in the canteen? Christmas is, of course, important - its important to spend time with those we love, to enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, to have fun with all the trappings of Christmas that make it so exciting... but isn't it even more important to remember what this is really all about - about the coming of a child, a poor, helpless child, who will go on to change the world.  

The challenge for me, at the end of a year of Running To Stand Still, and at the start of a season of manic activity is to stop and take the time out to prepare - for that is surely the purpose of Advent - to prepare for the coming of the King, both his coming as a child, born in a cave two thousand (and something) years ago, and his future coming in glory, when all the running will cease as we stop and worship the King of Kings... The question is how do I stop now and give him what he so richly deserves?