Faithful.

Merry almost-Christmas, beloved!

It is a cold and quiet Saturday morning, here at the Blundell house. There is laundry to do, and plans to make, projects to complete and things that need addressing. I am sitting here, wrestling with the temptation to do all of the things, all of them, right this moment.

But a line from a movie keeps running through my head, and distracting me.

Now, that is not an entirely unusual occurrence. But as I sit down to write today, with that line running through my head, it suddenly occurs to me that it is a Christmas movie, though I really hadn't put that together before. In fact, it has suddenly dawned on me that it is a retelling of the story of A Christmas Carol, and Ebenezer Scrooge. The movie is "Hook," starring Robin Williams, about Peter Pan having grown up and become very Scrooge-like. Peter and his family have travelled to England for Christmas, to spend it with his wife's grandmother Wendy (yes, THAT Wendy), but Peter is obsessed with work, yelling at everyone, fearful of everything, barely able to tolerate the visit or the holiday. It becomes clear that his relationships are extremely strained, due to his inattention and rotten behavior. At one point, his frustrated wife says to him (and this is the line that keeps echoing in my head): "It's so fast Peter. Just a few years, and it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it."

I think I need to put that movie on! Be right back.

This movie makes me so happy. 😍

It is so, so easy to miss it, beloved. When things are good and business is booming...when things are difficult, and we struggle to see past the present moment...when we have experienced a major loss or change, and we can't quite figure out how to be...when we are just sort of lost in the ordinary everyday, doing the things we always do and not really paying attention. It's so easy to allow this season to be over-filled with its tasks and events and projects that we miss the point of it entirely. It is so easy to miss the miracle.

But this is Advent. Amidst all of the rest of it, it is meant to be a time of stillness. Of preparing, yes, but of watching, and waiting, and hoping. A time to pay careful attention, to love all of those around us and look for miracles in ordinary things. A time to be still, and know that God is God. To taste and see that the Lord is good.

Tomorrow morning in worship, we will spend some time with Joseph, a man of righteousness, mercy, faith, and love. You'll find his story in Matthew 1:18-25; you might like to read it today, as you prepare your heart for worship. After worship, we will enjoy the kids' Christmas play! I hope you will join us. If you're not able, then I hope you will tune in to KVLV at 9:30, or find us on Facebook Live at my Facebook page (dawn blundell), and join us in spirit.

Life moves so fast, beloved. Be still, pay attention, and don't miss it.

See you in worship.

Steadfast love and countless blessings,
Pastor Dawn