Bethlehem is struggling this Christmas

Bethlehem is struggling this week of Christmas on the eve of the end of the first decade of this century we all rang in with such hope. Bethlehem is historically troubled. This Christmas is no different as the latest news reports say that Israel has shut the city down in a siege keeping all Palestinians in and all Christians wishing to visit there for the holy holiday out.

I read of the historic fights over the city with a sense of irony. Why in all these centuries has anyone not figured out that there might be a divine plan in the place being holy for all three practices of God's peoples. And the greatest irony of all being that the so troubled city was the birthplace of the Prince of Peace.

Something to think about...

A Condensed Life- Unplug

Life is so multi-layered. Cells phones, cars, computers, various internet surfing handheld devices, television, radio, drive-by conversations in office cube farms, drive-by fast food windows, overhead department of transportation signs, children who have forgotten how to sleep, backlogged voicemail, email, snailmail, shopping lists, to do lists, dayplanners, sticky notes stuck ad hoc.....So many messages received in a day.

Unplug....just for an hour. Hear the quiet. Shut out the mental noise. Breathe deep. Feel the peace. & know that God is with us.

A condensed life- one step

We have heard all the phrases:
Quality not quantity
Pare down to the essentials
Simplify
Find gratitude, not latitude
And you could probably contribute many others...

I have been trying the whole minimalist deal for most of the year. In areas, I can say I have made improvements, in other areas, not. It has been a journey of self- discovery. I found that it was odd- refocusing on an idea to an extent that I lost most of the others that were important to me.

I think that may be the object of minimalism but not the goal.

I went back to college this year so I have had little time for anything creative- no knitting, painting, blog writing. I am barely holding it together just staying on top of the mundane necessities of life like cleaning house, cooking meals, managing laundry. I am burnt out of hoping that this weekend will be the weekend that I get all the extra boxes from the move cleared out, get things clean, get up the christmas tree, finsh the christmas shopping. Who am I kidding? I have two papers and a final exam this week. I need to zone out, sleep, play SuperPoke Pets and justy chill. How to do it all....I even failed at FLYLady.

That is the crux of the drive to minimalism. The books, blogs, tv shows show you how to pare down a desktop, clear through clutter, but they don't tell you how to do it while being both a student and a mom. I NEED simplification. I just don't have the time to do it.

This is the dilemma....I need it....I want it...If I could go to a store and pay $100 and buy it I would.

Today I am going to forgive myself for the dirty dishes, the laundry in chaos, the unpacked boxes in the bedroom, & the empty pantry. Today I am going to remember that Christmas is the day to remember that God entered the world as a helpless, trusting infant and blessed us with His care for a short time.