Give Scripture a Chance

Christmastime is my favorite time of year besides Autumn and Valentine's Day, and summer when I get off work early every Friday. Oh, and Cabrillo's bi-annual Pottery Sale in the parking garage.
But Christmas definitely tops the list, if I had to choose Number 1.
The problem is, I get just as distracted by shopping lists and mailing Christmas cards as anyone else.
Last Friday I spent the entire afternoon at work with some friends taping $5 Starbucks cards inside giant Christmas cards and mailing them to 75 business contacts all over the country. And I let myself get stressed about it getting finished "on time" so it stopped being fun at one point- and it wasn't officially December yet.
I've decided this year to minimize the holiday stress by just saying no and prioritizing my to-do list. For instance, I put lights on the outside of my house. But I'm leaving the inside of my house unadorned. I'm not getting a Christmas tree this year because my cat is still crazy. (We thought he would have outgrown this phase by now). I am almost completely finished with Christmas shopping except for one family member who is rich and won't tell me what he wants for Christmas (because he probably already has it). I will not send out personal Christmas cards this year but I will bake Christmas cookies. I plan to wrap a co-worker's entire workspace and personal belongings in wrapping paper while he is on sabbatical and hiding a small gift that he has to find by unwrapping everything he already owns.
Aside from all of that, I really just want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I know I say that every year, but I don't want to be distracted by getting the traditions right. I want to reflect on the Father's tremendous act of Love by sending his Son to fulfill a promise. I want to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving throughout the season as I ponder Jesus' willingness to come to us in human form.
But above all, I want to reflect on God's word and grow nearer to him. Not that mailing Christmas cards is bad. I just don't feel like doing it. And I don't feel the least bit guilty.
Charlie's challenge this week is to spend 20 minutes reflecting on Scripture, twice. This is exciting because we can choose a passage ourselves and devote our full attention to waiting on God.
This will be challenging for me because I don't like to wait for anything. I don't wait to open my Christmas gifts and I make others open their gifts long before Christmas Day. So unwrapping God's word slowly is going to be an exercise in patience for me.