Photo by Inbal Malca on Unsplash

Christmas comes around each year: for some, it comes around so quickly; for others, it couldn't be slower. Some count down in excitement for what feels like months; others dread it, wishing it would never eventuate. Fundamentally, I think we all go one way or another: we get caught up in the chaos of it... or try to ignore it all together. 
I’m in a phase of ignoring it. As much as I love presents and decorations and fruit cake and celebrations, I kinda can’t be bothered. I can’t be bothered decorating my house, beautifully wrapping presents, baking once-a-year treats, hosting parties. I don’t have the energy or space. 

But Christmas does interrupt our world. And it should. 
But we get to choose how it does. What drama will you allow to interrupt your world?

During Advent - the days leading up to Christmas - we are given the beautiful opportunity to stop and choose how we interact with Christmas. Are we going to ignore it, are we going to get caught up in the chaos, or are we going to make space for “the unexpected beauty of Christ the King ... to be rebirthed in our heart”? 

There is drama at this time of year. But what drama will you interact with? The drama of the chaos of consumerism or the drama of the birth of the Saviour to be rebirthed in us?

I’m choosing the latter. 
I’m choosing to slow down and intentionally make space to reflect on the reality that Christ the King came to be with us, and allow that to be rebirthed in my heart - interrupting my world, and the world. 

Christmas is for me, and it is for you.

Join me. This Advent, allow him to change you and your world, and the world around us.

* One way that I am stopping and slowing down is by following Common Grace’s Advent series: Unexpected Beauty. Sign up to it here. This quote was taken from today’s reflection.

"I got it wrong."
It's not a phrase you hear often.
It's not a phrase we say often enough.

There are only 4 words, but they're powerful.

One of my favourite things about living in Melbourne (other than hipsters) is that we have embraced the U-turn.


At traffic lights, in turning bays, pretty much anywhere you want!
The rules are set up so that you can stop,
turn around,
and head in the right direction.
That’s not the case in New South Wales. You have to wait for a sign that says U-turns allowed, otherwise you can’t do one. In Victoria we say, “do a U-turn, go for it!”

How good would it be, if our norm as a community, was to admit when we get it wrong;
a culture of embracing the U-turn.



Life is hard, relationships are fragile and none of us have got it all together.
We'd be happier and healthier if we graciously allowed each other time to stop, turn around, and head in the right direction.

We all make mistakes, why not humbly admit it?!

Salt and pepper
Shoes and socks
Bacon and eggs
Fish and chips
Macaroni and cheese
Twiddle dee and twiddle dum
Rod and Mez

Some things just go together.

There were a variety of people there – some were experts,
some were rookies, like us…
and there were some rookies who acted like experts… also us.

It was a great exhibition, but it wasn't easy to appreciate the greatness.

There were a lot of distractions – people getting selfies, crowds pushing past you, people with screaming babies… (not ours, she slept through most of it).

I didn’t want anyone’s help with ideas
or transport
or logistics
or setting up – it was all on me.
I didn't want anyone else to know (other than her parents); I wanted it to be our special moment.

That meant that I took an expensive cab ride home from the proposal location, so my car was ready to go when we got there.
And that the picnic I had planned to set up before Mez arrived, didn’t quite happen in time.
I also had to lie to Mez and leave her at a pub, in order to escape and start the proposal plan.

But those details didn't matter,
she said yes.
I'm glad I could make it special, but I also could have used some help.

I wonder whether you go through life trying to do it all on your own.
Our culture is relentless in its pursuit and praise of self-sufficiency.
It’s seen as a developmental achievement for children.
It’s a ‘coming of age’ moment for teenagers / when you’re 26 and you finally move out of home…
And it’s a sign of success for those in their adult years.


A strong view of self is a good thing –
we are made in good and to do good.
We're made to flourish and live in confidence…
but not at the cost of dependence.
Not for the promotion of self.

We’ve taken something good and run wild with it.