Can You Feel It?

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It's Christmas Eve once again. 

 This year it seemed to arrive much sooner than usual.  I'm not the only one who feels that, right? 

 If you are like me, your list of things that needed to get done before today still has items left unchecked.  Maybe a lot of them. 

 Push away from the list for a moment, and take a deep breath. 

 Now close your eyes and pay close attention.  

 Can you feel it?  

 There's an energy in the world right now.  It's permeating everything.  We're all connected to it, but not all of us are aware of just how amazing it is.  

 That energy, that feeling is the expectant energy of all of the hope, desire, longing, worry, anxiety, fear, doubt, joy and triumph that is such a part of this Advent moment.  

 It's almost time.  

 Tonight we will engage in our traditions, our rituals, our gatherings... we'll exchange gifts, share meals...  we'll go to church and light candles.  

 But we will also know that there is more---there is something below the surface of everything that we're doing that thrills us when we stop long enough to truly ponder it.  

 We all know deep inside--even those of us who struggle to understand or even to believe--that the light is coming... The light of a new day with new beginnings is coming.  

 God will arrive, just as God always arrives in all places and in all times.  And we'll all have a choice to make in that moment, just like we've always had a choice to make.

 We can choose to step into the light of the new things God is doing... 
We can choose to let hope rise within us like the dawn of a new day... 
We can choose to trust in the kind of love it took for God to become one of us...

 We can choose to believe... even when it seems as though there isn't any evidence to support our defiant hope.  

 Go out into this Christmas Eve with a new awareness of what is happening all around you.  Live expectantly today in the light of God's imminent arrival.  

 And know that these are good tidings that should bring you an unbelievable amount of joy... Because unto you is born this day---a rescuer, who is Christ the Lord... The One who comes... Emmanuel... God with us...  

 May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always.  Amen.  

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