Advent Day 12
… for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1: 49, 51-53)
There is always a temptation on a youth or young adult retreat to play rowdy games late at night. Each leader must decide which games and activities will be acceptable, because the popular games keep changing along with the general tenor of the group. One of the most recent fads is the game of “Things,” in which participants list three things pertaining to a certain subject.
Today, let me offer a different list of Things. As a spiritual discipline today, take an inventory of some objects and actions in your life. See what you can get rid of, and what you can keep. Simplicity has been an important part of Christian spiritual practice from the beginning, but it’s never been easy.
So try beginning with this short list, and expand it as needed.
- Objects you currently possess and want to keep
- Objects you can give away, recycle, or sell.
- Things about your personality, gifts, and skills you want to keep.
- Things you want to change.
- Finally, list your current struggles. Here’s the funny thing about struggle: a battle of the soul, fought with deep prayer, meditation, and humility, can lead you toward the peace and strength you seek. Yet some battles are just battles, and never lead to positive change. Which battles are worth fighting?
Today’s daily Scripture reading from the PC(USA): http://gamc.pcusa.org/devotion/daily/2010/12/9/
Pastor2K 