Every year for Advent, I remember a story that a Lutheran pastor friend named LaVonne once told me. She was baffled by people who tried to celebrate Christmas every single day of December – and now, even before Halloween and Thanksgiving. She said it seemed to her that trying to jam the joy, energy, excitement, and awe of Christmas into 30+ days was like a bride who was so excited about her wedding day that she wore her wedding gown every single day for a month before her wedding. By the time that day arrived, she was so very tired and her dress had become dirty and torn. It was hard to fully celebrate that beautiful day.
LaVonne told this story, I think, because we have all this pressure to smile so big and to make everything perfect and we run ourselves ragged. Well, do I have good news for you: that’s not what Advent is all about. Advent, more than anything, is about connecting to what is real and working to refocus our lives.