Time has felt a little oppressive lately. I have a cold, sore throat, earache, and headache at present. No big deal, but slowing me down. Worse, I still don’t have my Christmas tree. The grandest room in our house is the dining room, and presently it is full of ornament boxes looking for a place to go.

Three years ago, I wrote a blog post called Mark Twain and Plans for December. If you click on the purple word Advent in the Tag section on the right, you will find a link to that blog post.

I reread it today, and while there are similarities, there are many differences. However, one chief point is helpful to remember. Sometimes it is essential to step out, take a breather, hit the pause button to focus on what is central.

Advent is upon us. Christians know it as the four Sundays before Christmas when we prepare for the birth of Jesus, which we celebrate on Christmas day.

There are many fun things to do in the days leading up to Christmas — packages to wrap, cookies to bake, trees to decorate. But take a breather and focus on the coming of the one born in a stable in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Watch and wait — His birth changes everything. Thanks be to God!