I was sharing with my friend Paul over at Men at the Movies how the past few years have been so crazy, I would start cringing around the end of October whenever anyone brought up Christmas. The thought of how busy and just psycho crazy the season gets was giving me anxiety just thinking about it. Even the “fun” things, like parties or spending time with friends felt stressful because it was just more “stuff” to do. So, I decided I needed a reset this year, and pulled out a book I picked up a couple of years ago that I highly, HIGHLY recommend, called “Shadows & Light” by Tsh Oxenreider. It’s sort of a guided devotional for Advent, but it’s MUCH more than that. It gives weekly and daily readings for Advent, plus suggested music and artwork to accompany each reading. The author even includes a Spotify playlist with all the songs on it for the reader. But she also encourages everyone to just use the book as a jumping off point and to do whatever they like and works best for them.

I was so looking forward to implementing this that I started early and did a “pre-Advent” the week before the actual first Sunday of Advent. I lit some candles in my room, shut off all the lights, put on a Christmas fireplace ambient video on the TV, and read the Messianic prophecies from Isaiah. It was…magical. I spent at least an hour and a half soaking with God in that sanctuary of just Him and me, enjoying His strong tangible presence.

I came out of it remembering why I loved Christmas so much as a child…I mean, sure, the presents were great, but what I really loved (and was able to carry into my adult years, even) was the magic and the mystery of Christmas. The way the snow softly falls outside, silent and peaceful. White lights in darkness. Soft music played in worship. The taste of homemade gingerbread and peppermint sticks. Smells of balsam and cedarwood. I even have a name for all of that…I call it “colors dull and candles dim”. It’s from a John Denver Christmas song called “A Baby Just Like You” and that phrase always stuck with me.

Using the devo and taking the time (even if it was five minutes before I went to bed) to light the candles on the Advent wreath, read the daily entry, and listen to the music made all the difference this year. I stuck with it, I didn’t miss one day, and as a result, this is the first year in a while that I was able to ease into Christmas and then, like setting a paper boat into a stream, let the old year carry it away. Usually by like noon on Christmas Day I’m like, “Thank GOD Christmas is OVER!” as I remove all the Christmas song playlists from my Spotify, the Christmas movies from my Netflix queue, and throw all my Christmas t-shirts in the wash before packing them away for another year. I’m usually so relieved Christmas is over I’m practically kicking the holiday out and slamming the door shut behind it.

I still had some stressful times, but I felt I was able to take joy in the season and keep peace in my heart so much more than I have in the past years. It was precious, and I encourage you as well to abandon the crazy and get back to the joy, even just a little. After all, like the scalper guy said, “You only get so many Christmases, kid. You gotta make them count.”