Two weeks ago, we celebrated Thanksgiving. I love this holiday. Most of the time we will either travel to be with family in Colorado, or we meet our family here in Las Vegas. However, this year we were not going to have anyone in town. Our neighbors were also busy, so this was going to be one of the first holidays where we wouldn't be including others. We were a little bummed out at first, but my wife decided to ask what else we could do. This world is filled with wonder, and we were going to have a few days off to try something new. After checking the weather, we decided to book a hotel at the Grand Canyon. It was a fantastic experience, and I am so thankful that we all just decided to embrace the moment. I loved seeing my kids walk up to the canyon for the first time and share in a sense of awe and wonder. It was a moment to pause and remember all of the incredible gifts that surround us. More importantly we realized the greatest gift was just being around each other.
The season of Advent is a time to wait patiently for the good gifts of God. Many people in the Biblical Christmas story did not notice the baby that was born and laid in a manger. Many people did not want to listen to the joy of the shepherds. However, the story tells us that the greatest blessings are found in celebrating the small moments. God is here. We are not alone, and we have the opportunity to live in the wonder of all creation.
Today I hope you can appreciate the gifts that that surround you. It may feel like joy is pretty far off in the chaos of our world. However, the Advent and Christmas story tell us that we can find hope, peace, joy, and love everywhere we go. Let's share this good news with the world.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
