I often feel pressure to make the Advent season meaningful. To eschew the hullabaloo of a commercialized Christmas season, the frantic shopping and decorating and baking. And to focus on more spiritual things, the reason for the season ...

You know what, though? I like shopping for my people. I like the jolly energy of it all, the camaraderie of all of us elves scouting out surprises big and small. I am a mediocre decorator and baker, but I try my hand. I love putting change in the red kettle of the Salvation Army bellringer. I love pondering our charitable contributions. I love planning a festive meal. The hullabaloo is my guilty pleasure.

So, rather than feeling guilty for not being more otherworldly, perhaps I will settle for a simple Advent thought this year. Just one. Might that be enough?

Richard Rohr writes about the Incarnation, the Christmas message that God became flesh, became human, one of us ...

Rohr says:

"The Incarnation was already the Redemption, because in Jesus's birth God was already saying that it was good to be human, and God was on our side."

God is on our side ...

God is on your side ...

God is on my side ...

God is on the side of all humanity ...

We aren't pitted against each other after all.

We are pitted against all those things that pit us against each other - jealousy, greed, anger, fear, war. And God is on our side against those things.

A simple Advent thought amidst the joy and sorrow, the tears and laughter, the peace and the hullabaloo of the season. ...

God. Is. On. Our. Side.

I am proclaiming that to be enough.

Enjoy the hullabaloo ...