peace always

Have you ever been so busy that you crawl home at night, exhausted, wondering how you will ever be able to get up tomorrow and do it all again? It happens every Christmas, Holy Week and Easter season for us church musicians. We work and work to make sure we choose the correct music, the most beautiful music, the most meaningful (we REALLY want the congregation to sing and to be spiritually uplifted by our offerings!)...we rehearse and rehearse our choirs ('til they're blue in the face!!!) and practice hours by ourselves (or we SHOULD; we've been doing it for years and years and sometimes we get complacent). I'm at that point right now, yet, at the core of my being, is great peace and joy. I love doing all these things--and much more, given this is only a part time job. All is well with my world, even though I'm bone-tired! The tiredness is of little matter when I consider the gifts I have been given. I know without doubt that God loves me. I believe I know my purpose in this life. I have marvelous friends and family who love me, no matter what, no strings attached, no expectations of perfection, willing to forgive any and all trespasses. (The people who once caused me angst have left. I am grateful they have and for the lessons I learned having encountered them for a while.) I believe I am doing the best I can to respond to God's call for my life (but NOT without lots of direction from Him!). I am very blessed!

I'm taking a week off after Christmas to rest, to pray, to contemplate something that seems very important in my life. I keep teasing you with this. I don't mean to do so but I'm not ready to divulge what is happening with me just yet. One thing I can tell you is it is very beautiful and it will ultimately involve a radical change in my life. I am praying I will be ready when the time comes.

So, we enter into the final week of Advent and of all our Christmas preparations. The one preparation we must not forget is in our spiritual life. Are we going to be ready to celebrate Our Lord's birth once more with selflessness and hospitality and a sense of giving? I'm praying for all of us--you and me--that we will always be open to Jesus' presence in our lives.

May you have a blessed and peaceful Fourth Week of Advent!