Isaiah 35:1-10 Find a way to lift someone who is weak, to reassure someone who is afraid; offer sight to someone who is not seeing, and good sounds to some who is having trouble hearing…

Well, I read this one when the Advent Prompts came out and I was all set to post about Christmas and the service at Old First and how I love singing carols at the creche and then playing brass as people come into Church for the 8PM service and then singing in the Choir and the hymn/carols with the Congregation....but, the best laid plans of mice and men aft....you know the drill.  I was feeling well enough to go to work today and then well enough to meet up with my family for our annual Maggiano's Dinner.  And I had a great time in both places and felt good until dessert was about to come out - I usually look forward to these desserts but, this time, I was not feeling well again.  And, then my chest issues came back and were partnered with belly pain.  And plans for 5PM services were scuttled and Sarah went with the girls and not me to 8PM services, and I missed out on one of my favorite evenings of Church in the whole year.  But, then my kids came home, and they were excited from the singing, ready for Christmas tomorrow, and filled with joy.  And those kids lift ME up when I am weak, reassure ME when I am afraid, and give me good sounds when I need to hear.  They are the greatest Christmas GIft a man could have.  God Bless you all, I hope you have had as an amazing of an Advent as I have.  Once again, I think Michael for these prompts and the people of Old First Reformed UCC who joined in the discipline with me.  And Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Luke 1:5-25 Go, visit, hold, treasure a baby!

Well, we're down to the last two and, as Anna has reminded me all afternoon, "TOMMOROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE!"  Now, being under the weather today, I did not want to visit anyone with a small baby...I do not want to pass this illness on.  But, when I got home from dropping off my daughter at a friend's house, I noticed that my neighbors, who just had a baby of their own, had not yet put their garbage to the curb as pickup is tomorrow AM.  Well, I thought that maybe the baby was fussy, or they were visiting family, so I started to make the exchange (empty recycling bins for full trash can), and I ran into my neighbor who came out to do it herself.  So we chatted a bit and we talked about her baby, but it just was not safe for me to visit her.  But, excited for tomorrow night, when we will see Baby Jesus (played by Theo V) in the manger in our Live Nativity - THAT is the baby I am waiting for......Happy Advent All!

Revelation 20:1-10 Every time you use a key today, ask yourself, what other doors could I be opening?

Well, I read this last night and tried to predict how many times I would use a key today, thinking about how many doors I would have to consider.  Then, as most of you know, I started to feel sick.  And, in fact, I ended up calling out of work today, staying home sick, and using a key far fewer times than usual.  But this year, in fact, has been about a lot of doors that have opened for me.  I have changed jobs, I have made progression on my dissertation, I have started to take better care of myself (last year, when I started to feel sick, I pushed through until I actually lost my voice!), and I am sure there are more doors in the future that I have not yet even considered.  Being present, being ready (as a previous prompt suggested, keeping my lamp "trimmed and burning") for change, even though change is sometimes scary (especially in the short term), but progress cannot occur without change.  Excited to think what changes (doors will open) will occur in the next year!

Ephesians 6:10-20 Too often we are more aware our weaknesses than our strengths. Identify where you are strong and powerful, capable and competent and lead with those resources — to do something that only you can do

Well, I know I am going to miss these when Advent is over, it has been very fulfilling to look at these each and reflect on the prompts and how they relate with my life. Today, was Tuba Christmas, and, while that is not something that ONLY I can do (witness 60+ other people who played in the concert), but it is certainly where I feel my strengths lie. So I am glad that, even though I was not feeling 100% and I went through a box of tissues at the rehearsal and concert, that I go to play this year and I think it was amazing.

Jude 1:17-25 Our world and our own lives are full of divisions. What could you do to lessen even just one?

It's interesting that this is the prompt for today, as I am considering my theme for 2015....and the leading one right now is Connectedness.  Connectedness is, basically, the opposite of divisions.  Today, I was in my old office in the Nursing School, (finally) packing up to move all my stuff over to my new space.  It's been a really busy semester and I have not had a free moment to pack.  And, as I packed, I reviewed a lot of pieces of paper sitting on my desk.  I saw notes from students, from faculty, from parents, and it was nice.  I think that, between the notes I have in my files, social media (I love that I have 3,900+ FB friends), and our Christmas Card/Letter list (it is fun to send and receive these cards, even to and from people we have not seen much in the last 12 months), I have been able to try to stay connected to as many people as I can.  I hope this can continue, even as my primary job responsibilities have changed....I think I will try to make sure that it does.  In the Tipping Point, Malcom Gladwell calls people Connectors (see my Daily Reflection from 12/16).  I cherish being a Connector and I like that is can lessen the divisions in life.

Matthew 11:2-15 Keep your eye out for people you come across who surprise you, especially for those whose goodness you did not expect or have been hoping for.

This morning was the funeral of my good friend, Russ Lynn. And, as stated previously, I do NOT do well at viewings and funerals....I come apart, crying, quite easily. So today, as I approached the Church for Mass, I was looking for someone to sit by, to give me support, even if they did not know they were giving. And I, luckily, found a seat in front of another Nursing faculty colleague who, while she probably did not know it, helped me hold it together merely with her calm presence. Yes, I sobbed a bit, and I wiped my tears away, but the love I felt in the room, for Russ, from family, friends, colleagues, and students was, frankly, MORE than I expected (I did expect it, just not at the volume I felt), and that love ALSO helped me through a tough, tough morning.

Isaiah 9:18-10:4 Offer help to someone who is all alone in the world, a widow or an orphan (literally or figuratively).

Well, some days, I think Divine intervention is at work.  After a really nice day at work that included an end-of-the-day department holiday party and a retirement party for a valued colleague, I had a busy evening.  A viewing for a dear friend, who left this Earth way too soon and then a Choir rehearsal for Christmas Eve music, left me saddened and then uplifted.  And as that range of emotions was settling, and we were all getting ready to go to bed, we heard a strange noise outside and ran outside.  A tree branch had come down and hit the power lines of the house across the street.  So we called 9-1-1 and we made sure the people in the house were OK (and made them hot coffee) and then sat and were impressed by the quick  response by the Police, Fire Dept, PSE&G, and even Comcast.  In an hour they were restored, but, I was happy to have been able to offer help to them, even for that one hour that they were "orphaned" from their home.  Glad all is well.