December All reddy

The last month of the year with us, and Advent Calendars- if you can find them still called that rather than the hideous secular attempt at being politically correct with "Countdown Calendars"- would have been eagerly opened in many homes this morning by the young and not so young.

It's funny, over the years I must have collected umpteen Advent Calendars myself with the best of intentions, which usually ended up being entwined in a mad rush of paper door opening a few days before the celebration, rather than each morning as should be the case. This only demonstrates what a horrendously disorganised soul I am much of the time, or rather because of time-there's rarely enough of it to fit in all the things I'd like to do, let alone need to do! If I have a prayer for one weakness in my make-up I'd like to overcome, it's surely this, coupled with my untidiness I guess.

However, I do know the proper time and place for prayer and the preparations for Christmas in just 25 days time. I've come down from town, just for the night, once again, principally to help support the Prayer and Praise evening at the church I attended here while my main home was in Eastbourne. It was a good time of prayer, but that shouldn't be the end of it, and now I guess I really ought to take a look at my advent devotional before I hit the sack ready for an early start tomorrow.

My employer has a half-day of prayer once a quarter, which in my short time with the organisation I've found a very pleasing and fulfilling experience. This is in addition to the daily ten minutes of prayer which I'm always rather sad to miss if transport delays mean I'm not in the office before 9. It's a nice touch which I wish a few more Christian organisations could find time for in their working day. The peace and setting of a historic building helps, of course, but it's the presence of the one this season really prepares us for that gives these precious interludes in the day such meaning.

Having said that, I feel a bit daunted about being asked to write and read a meditation at our next half day on Monday. With no particular theme prescribed, I nevertheless feel that Advent is where my heart is naturally at spiritually at present and so I must get my thinking cap on for what to write. Meanwhile, there's a clue to one of the ideas I've had in the title of this posting.

Link from this page today takes you to the newly-launched blog of Brian Draper who I've featured on this blogspot before. Brian's not just a gifted writer but knows a good photograph when he sees one too. Check out his latest offerings by clicking on "December All Reddy" (my title for this, not his!) above, and bookmark it now!

But, the Magic Roundabout of time and Eastbourne tide wait for no man. It's time for me to go to sleep to the accompaniment of the wind and the not so far off waves outside my maritime bolthole. Time for bed, said Zebedee.