{"id":868,"date":"2014-11-18T08:49:52","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T12:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/pursuedbytruth\/?p=868"},"modified":"2015-12-01T15:47:15","modified_gmt":"2015-12-01T19:47:15","slug":"5-ideas-to-kickstart-your-advent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/pursuedbytruth\/2014\/11\/5-ideas-to-kickstart-your-advent.html","title":{"rendered":"Five Ideas to Kickstart Your Advent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0Indeed, what use would it be to you that Christ once came in the flesh if he did not enter your soul? Let us pray that he may come to us each day, that we may be able to say: I live, yet it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20)<\/em> \u2013 Origen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Advent is here.<\/p>\n

By the end of\u00a0Lent I am usually more than ready for it to be over (and dying to eat a piece of chocolate).<\/p>\n

But when Advent ends I am usually like,\u00a0\u201cWhat?!? Wasn\u2019t it just Thanksgiving!?\u201d<\/p>\n

So before this season passes me by in the blink of an eye I have\u00a0a\u00a0brilliant idea\u2026I\u2019m going to start planning now for my Advent. And you are going to help me.<\/p>\n

Chances are Advent\u00a0will still be fleeting,\u00a0but with your help I\u2019m gonna do my best to make the most of this time and keep my focus on Jesus.<\/p>\n

So, here\u2019s the deal. I\u2019ll share some ideas with you, and you\u00a0will share some with me.<\/p>\n

No free passes people!<\/p>\n

Here are my\u00a0kickstart-your-Advent ideas:<\/p>\n

\"adventcandle1. Pick a book to re<\/em>ad that\u00a0you wouldn\u2019t normally read.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Or just read something<\/em> if you don\u2019t normally read for leisure. Throughout\u00a0Advent I am planning on putting aside a few\u00a0evenings a week just to read. Are you thinking of picking up a book this Advent and need some ideas?\u00a0Try \u2013\u00a0A Woman Wrapped in Silence<\/a>, The Infancy Narratives<\/a> by Benedict XVI, Advent Grace \u2013 Daily Gospel Reflections<\/a>, The Reed of God<\/a>. Or you could\u00a0read my book, The Prodigal You Love: Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church<\/a>. (Some might think that\u2019s a cheap unrelated plug but\u00a0imagine if we all\u00a0extended effective invitations\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0\u201cChristmas Catholic\u201d friends and family to remain in the pews all year? Best Christmas present for Jesus ever\u2026)<\/p>\n

2. Write a letter.<\/strong><\/em> For me, writing is a spiritual activity in many ways, especially when I\u00a0write to someone about what is going on inside, not just the weather. I would say that sometimes when I write to close, spiritual friends I write the same things I would write to God. In fact, I think I often\u00a0am<\/em> writing to God\u2026<\/p>\n

3. Step away from the technology.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>These days we have to force ourselves to put down our smart phones, leave the computer or step away from the TV. This Advent, think about giving yourself space to do something different. A Facebook fast might be a good idea. But since I often do things in extremes, this Advent I am going to try something more balanced that will more easily translate to life after Advent. For instance, no technology after dinner. Or something like that\u2026(she says as she clings to her laptop and looks around with wild eyes)<\/p>\n

4. Sign up for Father Barron\u2019s free Advent reflections<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>Are you surprised he gets his own number? I\u2019m not. Father Barron is awesome. And if you don\u2019t sign up for this freebie, I question your sanity.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Pray a novena.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>I have a hard time with novenas. St. Th\u00e9r\u00e8se knows I have novena issues. I have begun and never finished many a rose novena to St.\u00a0Th\u00e9r\u00e8se<\/a>. She\u2019s so used to it that she often gives me a rose in the first few days just because she\u2019s nice like that. Now that I am in a bookstore almost every day, surrounded by novenas, I still<\/em> forget my novena prayers. It\u2019s pathetic. But this Advent, I think I will pray a novena to Mary. I am not sure whether it\u2019ll be Guadalupe<\/a>, The Immaculate Conception<\/a>, Untier of Knots<\/a>, or, if pigs fly, I might pray all three.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s a freebie:<\/p>\n

Go to confession<\/strong><\/em>. I know you may not like it\u2026but confession is good for you! I used to dread confession. Like a kid who tries to avoid taking baths, I avoided the confessional for many years.\u00a0But guess what? I have grown to really like confession. It just makes me feel lighter, cleaner, more prepared to welcome Jesus.<\/p>\n

Ok, folks, now it\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n

Inspire me!<\/p>\n

\"TheProdigalYouLove\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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