Every year at the start of the holiday season, I vow that I am not going to be overcome by “Christmas craziness” – the condition that occurs when the have-to-dos become more stressful than enjoyable.
With COVID-19 raging everywhere, one would think that with shelter-in-place restrictions, mask wearing requirements and travel warnings, it would be easier to maintain a calm outlook. With no holiday visitors anticipated, who cares if you leave a few Christmas decorations in the box this year?
Yet…technology is very good at providing diversions, even guilt trips, that gnaw away at my attempts to hang onto tranquility.
As each day passes, the promotional emails continue to bombard my inbox:
~Order today for Christmas delivery!
~24 hour access on new arrivals!
~Up to 50% off – these prices are HOT!
I start feeling anxious.
Some days I feel rebellious, wanting to escape what seem like holiday demands; other days I obsess, spending countless hours searching online for that perfect gift.
Here in New Mexico, there aren’t too many streams close by – but a dear friend blessed me with the devotional Streams In The Desert, which has been a source of inspiration and comfort each morning.
L.B. Cowman writes: “The one thing we need today more than anything else is to spend time alone with our Lord, sitting at His feet in the sacred privacy of His blessed presence.“
Therein lies the answer to maintaining serenity – call it meditation, contemplative or centering prayer, or just plain old resting with and talking to God.
My favorite part of these mornings is turning on the Christmas tree lights and sitting down with coffee for some quiet time with God.
This time of sacred isolation feeds my soul like nothing else can.
During this time of year, it is important to remember the true meaning of Christmas, and to hold onto the gratitude and wonder of reflecting on the birth of Jesus – God’s gift to all mankind.
He saved the world – and He can save us from holiday madness, too.
God doesn’t flood our mental inboxes or pressure us.
He is always available, and warmly welcomes us when we reach out to Him; His gifts of peace and calm sustain us – not just through the holidays, but always.
What a joy it is to isolate with Him…
“Every life that desires to be strong must have its ‘Most Holy Place’ (Exodus 26:33) into which only God enters.” ~ L.B. Cowman, Streams In The Desert
beWARM 
What a great point that God doesn’t flood our inbox with demands and temptations, yet if we order our desires properly (easier said than done for me!), he does flood out hearts and souls with comfort and joy. Thanks for sharing this morning…holy isolation is exactly what I need in every season, especially this one.
I totally agree, Lauren! I’m praying that we can hang on to holy isolation for many days to come! Thank you for reading, and for sharing your thoughts….xo
Great thoughts Toni. I was just texting a friend about all the things that have been taken from us: friends, family, neighbors, music concerts, church gatherings, shopping trips, lunch or dinners in a restaurant with spouses and suddenly I realized God is calling us to Himself with no other distractions so why are we complaining? Forgive me Lord and draw me nearer to the cross.
Amen, Jean! Good to hear from you – and I hope that you and John are staying well!!!
Thank you, Toni! Your thoughts are most encouraging! God bless!
Thank you for reading, Susie!!! Blessings to you and your family this Christmas! ❤️
Most certainly!!!
:)
Yes….keeping the ‘main thing the MAIN THING’…..Him.
Thank you always Toni…you ‘listen well’…to His Spirit and share to encourage us all…KEEP ON WRITING girl XOOOOX
I will, whenever the Holy Spirit speaks…. :)
,,,oops…the last post was me…Frannie
Thank you for the encouragement, Toni. Instead of trying to do everything despite the pandemic, I am accepting it as a gift–the gift of cutting out and calming down!
You are right about this isolation time being a gift, Lois! I’m working on receiving that as such this year!!!
Solitude with God. Divine Mystery. Water in any desert. Birth due. Labor first. Feelings are sometimes laborious… but Joy usually comes through when I acknowledge those feelings. Center with God. Love your posts, thank you for the blessing of this reading today in my morning meditation. Blessings:)
Lovely thoughts, Lisa! Thank you for sharing them…and for reading. xo
“The sacred privacy of His blessed presence…” This can’t be said any better! That isolation you wrote about, Toni – that aloneness with Him – we can never be any less alone than that! Our perfectly peaceful Companion……..