A Little Ragamuffin Advent Reading

Welcome to advent, i.e. the season of waiting and preparation leading up to Christmas. It’s a formal observance in some churches, with specific themes for each week. The exact start date varies slightly, as the day of the week on which Christmas falls varies. It always ends December 24 and includes four Sundays.

I have in the past worked my way through an advent devotional book or two. God is in the Manger, a compilation of writings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is really good. The one by Nouwen my friend and I tried last year was surprisingly meh. I’m going rogue and swearing them all off this year, though. Right now it feels less like an enjoyable read and more like an obligation and one more crushing weight on top of my overflowing to do list.

Instead, I’m keeping up with my daily devotional, Brennan Manning’s Reflections for Ragamuffins. I choose a different devotional book each year. I suppose I should get around to deciding what 2020’s choice will be. It doesn’t have to be new to me. I might revisit a previous one.

Brother Brennan summed up the advent season in one short paragraph.

Boom. I’m a fan of efficiency. Especially in the midst of the busy, always overfilled with stupid expectations holidays.

“If Jesus is Lord of my life and my Christmas, I am challenged to submit all the priorities of my personal and professional life to this primary fact.” #BrennanManning #Advent #Christmas #Ragamuffin Share on X

I took a slight detour the other day to read Ecclesiastes in The Message translation, dubbed by my advent devotional friend as the groovy version of the scriptures. If you’ve read me for very long, you know I refer to Ecclesiastes as the existential book of the bible. The author repeatedly states that life is meaningless, meaningless … until you get to the last few verses, where he adds that all is meaningless except in light of heaven. I highlighted a few key verses along my journey, and they seem particularly fitting for the advent season.

Maybe the writer of Ecclesiastes was also a fan of efficiency.

While we’re speaking biblically …

On the subject of seven deadly sins, did everyone get their selfie with the giant sloth in Kohl’s during their Black Friday shopping? I’m curious how many of the furry creatures have been sold.

Also seen while shopping. We used to call this pleather, but vegan is all the rage these days.

I’m going to wrap this up so I can go for a walk before the sun sets. Prioritizing self-care is high on my advent to-do list, as it is on all my to-do lists.

Peace of Christ, ragapeeps.