In the past, Advent was a time of fasting and contemplation, allowing people to prepare themselves spiritually for the Christmas celebration to follow, rather as Lent is a time to prepare for Easter.
Now, lights and baubles surround us even before Advent starts and many Christmas parties are over by the second week in December.
In CS Lewis' much loved children's book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Narnia was under a curse whereby it was always winter and never Christmas.
Nowadays we seem to be under a spell where it is always Christmas and never Advent.
No wonder that when Christmas Day arrives, we are often frazzled - instead of a sense of wonder, I have a sense of disappointment - somehow I have cheated myself of the 'true meaning of Christmas'.
This year, I'm going to try to take the bustle and preparations with a pinch of salt. Whatever I manage to do, it will have to be good enough. And actually, because my friends and family are kind and forgiving people, it WILL be good enough.
So in 2022, I am making a pre-New Year's resolution to find some space and stillness in Advent.
Photo shows Nigel & our friend Carolyn with a giant robin at Gibside.
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