Advent Devotional

Letting Go

I began writing my blog about nine years ago.  I had always loved writing as a creative avenue (my

dream was to be a journalist and write novels), and due to the fact that my career is in business as a Chief Financial Officer, I needed some way of expressing myself.  I titled my blog, “Stuffed With Fluff – Oh Bother!”, partly due to my love of Winnie the Pooh and the fact that in many cases, my head is stuffed with fluff.  I write about life, my family, friends, students, pets, church, and in many ways, how God speaks to me through all of those avenues.  And I wait to see where God is going to take me.     

I’m not exactly sure how most people write, but my blog posts often take many months to “percolate”.  The process is very similar in each case, the difference is typically in the timing.  It all begins with an idea, something strikes me, something interests me.  And that idea sits there for a while.  And like we do in the Advent season, I wait.  Sometimes, I wait, and the idea never gets beyond that point, it dies a slow, but quiet, death.

If the stars were made to worship so will I

In most cases though, the idea progresses, and the way it progresses is through my morning runs.  As I run, I listen to contemporary Christian music, and I talk to God.  As I listen to God, I write my blog in my head.  So I wait for it to formulate, because I know it will be something eventually.  Sometimes God must talk very slowly, or I must listen very slowly, because it takes months for me to write it in my head.  

If the wind goes where You send it so will I

In these nine years, I have not had a goal or a set amount I want to write or themes I want to write about.  It all depends on what strikes me, what interests me, and then I wait for God to help me foster that idea into a creation.

If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I

What really strikes me about this waiting is that in my everyday life, I very much want or need to control everything.  While spiritually I realize that the only one in control is God, I can’t seem to let go of my desire to be in control.  My blog is the one thing over which I give up all control to God.  How it’s written, what is written, the timing of it, all depends on how God speaks to me, and yes, how well I listen.  It is the one thing in my life that I patiently wait for God to deliver on His terms and timing.  Maybe that is why it is so precious to me.

If the rocks cry out in silence so will I

As I approach Advent this year, what am I waiting for?  What are you waiting for?  What will come out of this waiting?