Wear Purple & Headache at Work

June 1 is the first day of Migraine and Headache Awareness Month (MHAM). Today, we’re highlighting a headache awareness initiative and headache at work. 

© 2020 Jamie V.

Wear Purple to Work (at Home)

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) created an initiative to help promote migraine and headache awareness: Wear Purple to Work (at Home). On June 1, wear purple and share a photo on social media to show solidarity for the 40+ million people in America living with headache disorders. 

When you share on social media, please use the hashtags: #MHAM #MHAM2020.

Headache at Work

Work often includes facing a slew of headache and migraine triggers that can stack and result in increased attacks: bright lights, computer screens, strong odors / scents, loud noises, stress, rigid schedules and deadlines, the list goes on. 

Many people are working from home during the pandemic. For some, work being moved to a virtual / from home format is proving to allow the flexibility needed to be a more productive worker and have improved quality of life.

It’s unclear what the work landscape will look like, as more workplaces decide how to move forward. It remains important to recognize the need for employer accommodations for those living with headache disorders. Hopefully these months of virtual workplaces will provide the evidence needed for companies to consider offering employees more options moving forward. 

Once workplaces bring people back to the office, the Migraine at Work campaign provides tools and resources for employers and employees to utilize. 

"I don't have a dis-ability, I have a different-ability." - Robert M. Hensel

Farewell, 2018!

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Today is the final day of 2018.

The past week has been rough, pain-wise. But, I've done my best to review and reflect on this past year beyond the lens of my current pain... it's good to remember that things aren't always so hard.

This year has been a year of ups and downs, as life is. I've laughed and been filled with joy. I've been scared and overwhelmed with anxiety. I've found courage deep within and faced fears. I've practiced being present in the moment. I've made some wonderful memories and connections. I've lived, not just survived.

The coming year will be another chapter in my journey. While I don't make new year's resolutions, I have found that having a word to focus on in the coming year has been powerful.

Personally, I spend time praying about what God wants to grow me in and show me during the coming year. I have felt Him place a word or phrase on my heart each year that I've done it. It has been a practice of beauty, discipline, and grace.

The chosen word or phrase becomes a lens through which I examine my heart and life, both as I move through the year and upon reflection.

Whether or not you make resolutions or choose a word, I hope that you take some time to think about and reflect on what the year has held. Celebrate the wins and reflect on the losses.

As we transition into the new year, my hope is that each of us lives our most authentic and best life.

Practice gratitude. Laugh as much as possible. Find beauty everywhere. Be bold. Stay true to your beliefs. Treat yourself and others with kindness. Live with intention, love, and joy.

"It is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action." - Zachary Quinto

Establishing Care With a New Provider: Step by Step

You've made the decision to seek out a new healthcare provider... what's next?

This is the third post for establishing care with a new provider: My Journey and The First Step.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Below are some guidelines to help you through the process. I've divided them into before, during, and after the appointment.

Before 

• Find a healthcare provider. Follow this link to Find a Headache Specialist. 
• Check insurance coverage and restrictions. Contact or search to ensure your new healthcare provider will be covered by your insurance. If your new provider is a specialist, check with insurance to find out if a referral is required. 
• Schedule your appointment. Either have you current provider submit a referral or contact the new provider to schedule an appointment. Specialists are often difficult to get in to see. Be prepared for a long wait to get on the schedule. 
• Request and complete paperwork ahead of time. Some providers will automatically send you the paperwork ahead of time. If they don't, simply request it. 
• Request to transfer your medical records and test results. Contact your current and/or previous provider(s) to make this request. You'll need to submit a record release form. The transfer of records can take several weeks, so make the request early. 
• Consider bringing someone with you to your visit. Make sure this is someone that you're comfortable having in the room with you. Have him/her take notes of what the doctor says, so that you can focus on the appointment. 
• Make a list of questions and concerns. Prioritize the list, as you may not be able to get to all of them.
• Prepare a list of current medications (including prescription, over the counter, vitamins, and supplements). Providing a list of previous medications can be useful, as well. 

During

• Share your short introduction. This doesn’t have to be done in a formal way, but it can often provide a good start at the appointment. 
• Answer questions honestly. This is not a time to wear a mask. Try not to over- or under- state the intensity or severity of your symptoms, as an accurate assessment is important. Be prepared to be specific in describing symptoms and how they affect you. 
• Address your list of questions and concerns. It may not be possible to address the entire list during the appointment. 
• Clarify if there is anything the healthcare provider would like you to track. Each provider has different preferences about what they want tracked, for how long, and in what format. 
• Discuss goals of treatment. Sometimes the goals and expectations that we have for our treatment plan vary from our doctor's. 
• Discuss expectations for communication between visits and for emergencies. 
• Ensure that you know / understand what your next steps are (testing, treatments, etc), and when you should plan your next appointment. 

After

• Complete any follow-up tasks your provider requested (if applicable). 
• Follow the treatment plan you and your provider have agreed upon. 
• Request office notes for your personal records. Some doctors utilize an online portal for records and communication. 

Rest assured that the initial appointment with your doctor is just the beginning. You don't have to get everything in during that first interaction. This is the start of a partnership and another part of your journey.

"Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success." - Henry Ford

Establishing Care With a New Provider:

• My Journey
• The First Step
• Step by Step

Establishing Care With a New Provider: The First Step

You might be seeking to establish care with a new healthcare provider under any number of circumstances, but knowing how to proceed can be daunting.

First, congratulations on taking charge of your health. Finding a provider that is a partner in your care is a powerful thing, and is definitely worth the time and effort involved.

Second, take a deep breath.

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash

It may feel like you have an insurmountable climb ahead of you, but just take it one step at a time. 

I previously shared My Journey. Here are a few things that helped me move forward in establishing care with a new provider. 

Many of us have a lot of data on our chronic illness, including medical history and pain trackers. Understand that there's simply no way that a doctor has time to go through all of that for each patient... and that's okay. 

A lot of what I was so overwhelmed and anxious about was feeling that I wasn't going to be able to provide all the answers or information the doctor would need to partner in my care. 

Having a brief introduction prepared is a good place to start. Being able to concisely share a description or outline of your journey is a great skill to have. Consider how you would share your health story in just a few sentences. Some questions to guide you:

• When did you start experiencing headache? 
• When were you officially diagnosed? 
• What was your diagnosis? 
• What categories of treatments have you tried (e.g., medications, devices, alternative therapies)? 

You know your body and your experience better than anyone. The combination of your new patient paperwork and your short introduction should result in a conversation between you and the provider. They will ask for more details when they need to, and you'll be able to answer because it's your experience. 

Establishing care with a new healthcare provider can be difficult and stressful, but it can also be hopeful. This is an opportunity for a fresh start. A new partnership. A different set of knowledge, skills, and experiences.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

When I was writing about this topic, I found myself addressing it from two different angles: personal experience and as a step by step process. It’s not unusual for me to struggle with which way I want to share, as well as with indecision. I’ve chosen to post both, as I believe them to both be useful in seeking and establishing care with a new provider. Stay tuned for the Step by Step guidelines.

Establishing Care With a New Provider:

• My Journey
• The First Step
• Step by Step

Establishing Care With a New Provider: My Journey

A friend of mine recently moved to a different state and is facing the daunting task of finding and establishing care with a new healthcare provider. When she shared this with me, I remembered all of the feelings and emotions that had flooded me, when I faced the same thing. Sharing my journey to help others is a big reason why I started this blog, so it only seemed right to sit down and write.

This will be a multi-part post. I'll share my story, and then I'll lay out some guidelines to use in your own journey (First Step and Step by Step).

Establishing care with a new healthcare provider?

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

I’ve been there. It can be a time of mixed emotions. Anxious. Overwhelmed. Scared. Exciting. Hopeful. 

I’d known for a long time that my doctor was out of treatment options for me to try. He did his best to help me maintain, but he had nothing new in his toolkit to offer. Despite him outright telling me multiple times over several years that this was the case, I wasn’t able to hear and accept what he was telling me. 

Honestly, I was afraid. I’d been with this doctor for 7.5 years. He was the first headache specialist I was referred to in the year following my car accident (The Battle Begins). He had helped me through so much, and I was comfortable with him.

• I was afraid of starting with someone new. 
• I was afraid that I’d have to retry failed treatment options. 
• I was afraid I’d have to prove and defend my pain and disability levels. 
• I was afraid of the monumental task that starting with a new doctor while having such a complex medical history felt like.

I had spoken with a couple doctors at patient conferences about what was important for establishing a new relationship with a healthcare provider. This helped ease my mind a little bit about what I needed to do to prepare, but it still took me a year or two to get to a place where I was prepared to take that step. 

My doctor was very supportive and kind about me moving on to a different headache specialist. He sent the referral and continued my care until I could get in with the new doctor. 

I prepared a lot at home for that new doctor, but much of it was to make sure my mind was in order... for me, having order can help ease my anxiety, even if only a little bit. 

My first appointment with my new headache specialist was incredibly smooth. I had submitted all of the new patient paperwork prior to the appointment. I never felt like I had to defend myself in any way. He didn’t question how much the pain has disrupted my life... he trusted my word. That was hugely uplifting and powerful. Since each doctor has different preferences about what they want tracked, I clarified that with him on our first visit. We also discussed expectations for communication between visits and for emergencies. 

I left that visit “grateful for renewed hope with a new specialist. Looking forward to this chapter, as it already promises opportunities to make positive changes in my life. The road won’t always be pleasant… sometimes it’ll be downright miserable… but, I have a good support team that knows I can do it, even when I’m uncertain.” 

I only saw this doctor a few times before I moved a couple states away. I struggled with separating from a doctor that was a true treatment partner. We had barely scratched the surface, and the fear that I may not find another doctor that I trusted and would be a partner in my care lay heavy on me. 

Time to start over... but on a much larger scale, as I would need a new dentist, eye doctor, and primary care doctor, in addition to a headache specialist. It felt like a heavy task, but it was no longer monumental. There was a sense of hope that getting new perspectives of my health might reveal new possibilities in treatment and quality of life. 

I chose to find a headache specialist first. My previous doctor referred me to my current doctor and continued care until I could be seen. 

My first appointment with my current headache specialist was a lot like the previous one. I submitted all of the new patient paperwork prior to the appointment. The appointment was smooth, which I attribute partially to me continuing to hone in on my experience. We, too, discussed expectations and ensured we were on the same page as one another. 

That appointment initiated a series of consults and testing to address other health concerns and comorbid diseases. I saw around 8 new doctors (in addition to testing) in the following 5 months. Each doctor needed my story, but from a different vantage point... from the vantage point of his/her specialty area. It was exhausting, but I learned so much. 

I realize that not everyone has access to a headache specialist and that not everyone will have a smooth, positive experience. There are not even close to enough headache specialists available (there are less than 500 in the United States), and most doctors don't receive much education about headache medicine. All we can do is be prepared to do our best to find a healthcare provider (even if it's not a headache specialist) that is willing to partner with us in our care. 

"The fears we don't face become our limits." - Robin Sharma

Establishing Care With a New Provider:

• My Journey
• The First Step
• Step by Step

Journey to Christmas: Knowing Our Christ

This is Part V of "Journey to Christmas"

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them." (Isaiah 11:1-6)

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." (Luke 2:1-20)

Nothing was ready on the first Christmas - Mary and Joseph were a young, unprepared couple; the Christ-child was born in a dirty barn; the lowly shepards were there to witness the birth. Nothing was prepared or ready... and, we don't have to be completely "ready" before doing what God is calling us to do. He wants to dwell in the midst of the muck of our lives. So, even though we might feel like we must have everything in order and "just right" before we do God's calling, we don't. He'll take us from wherever we are, however we are.

On that first Christmas, nothing was ready and that night didn't change a single thing in the reality of the world that night... except for the people. The people were changed that night. And, we're meant to allow Christ to change us.

Lord, there is so much darkness in this world - pain, grief, broken relationships, and so forth. Please let the light of Christ shine on the darkness in me and the world.

Journey to Christmas: The Sounding Joy

This is Part IV of "Journey to Christmas"

The Sounding Joy (12/18/11)

Okay, so this day's sermon wasn't online... I think it was mostly (or all?) a music-filled service. So, I'd like to share a song that I love for the holidays. This song is simply AMAZING! I'll just let it speak for itself... I hope that everyone has a safe and merry Christmas!

http://youtu.be/OExXItDyWEY

Where's the Line to See Jesus by Becky Kelley

Christmas time was approaching; the snow was starting to fall,
Shoppers choosing their presents, people filling the mall,
Children waiting for Santa with excitement and glee,
A little boy tugged my sweater, looked up and asked me,

Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday,
Why don't we see Him more?

As I stood in amazement at this message profound,
I looked down to thank him, he was nowhere around.
The little boy at the mall might as well have had wings
As the tears filled my eyes, I thought I heard him say,

Chorus:
Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday,
Why don't we see Him more?
Where's the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents,
But Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye, at the sound of His trump,
We'll all stand in line at His throne.
Every knee shall bow down, every tongue will confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

[Chorus]

Stay tuned for Part V (Knowing Our Christ) of "Journey to Christmas"

Journey to Christmas: Knowing Our Part

This is Part III of "Journey to Christmas"

Knowing Our Part (12/11/11)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38) 

Mary was a young girl that had a set of expectations, hopes, and dreams (a path) for her life. But, with one brief moment / interchange with the angel, all of these things were gone and she was told that she would have God's baby (and the world would have expectations of this baby). Mary was "most perplexed" (i.e., freaked out) by the news that the angel brought her.

Her life was turned upside down / completely changed... she was now faced with the path that God lay before her, a life that she had not chosen. But, amidst all of the change and chaos, Mary said, "Here I am, a servant of the Lord. Let it be with me not according to my way, not to my desire, not to my plan, not to my list of right and wrong, but let it be according to God."

The Christ-child didn't just change Mary's life... he changed everyone's lives. That's the Christmas story... an encounter witht he Christ-child is supposed to change us - to change the way we think things should be, the way we want to organize things, the paths that we've set out for ourselves, and the journey that we've picked for out lives. When we encounter the love, grace, and forgiveness of the Christ-child, we're supposed to say, "Here I am, a servant of the Lord. Put me on whatever journey / path you want. Put me in whatever circumstance you want. I'm not going to try to do things my way, I'm going to do them your way, God.. not my way, but your way."

Christmas is supposed to change, and we're supposed to be different because of it. If we really find the truth in Christmas (the joy, hope, peace, and love), we can't keep going down the same path we've always been on... we can't keep living life the way we want to... we can't keep assuming that we have the right answers and that we know what's best... we have to change in the face of the light of Christ, and say with humility, hope, and joy: "I'm scared to death to not do things my way, God. I'm perplexed at how I can possibly live life on your journey instead of my own. But here I am, a servant of the Lord, send me."

Mary wasn't "qualified," per se. But, she had a willingness, an open heart to do things God's way, not hers. That's what God is looking for! He's not looking for us to be perfect. He's not trying to call those that have it all figured out. He's interested in those that are willing to say, "I'm scared to death. I'm perplexed. But here I am, a servant of the Lord... use me."

"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

All of the chaos and busyness of life tends to get in the way of us being as open and willing as Mary was. We get uncomfortable with all of the complexity and change around us that we become rigid. It's engrained in us that we're supposed to have all the right answers, but we forget that God is the only one that does. We become so commited to the path that we've set for ourselves that the idea of getting off that path and doing something different (even if it's an angel telling us to do so) seems crazy to us. Even when God brings opportunities to us, we're often too busy on our own paths that we don't even see God's path / opportunity right in front of us. We mustn't let the opportunities to be the light and the hope of Christ slip right by us because we're so caught up in thinking we have so much to do and that we have all the right answers.

I pray that we might have the eyes and the ears of a child. That we might finally come to understand that there's more... more to this life... more to Christmas than just a day. It's about seizing the opportunities in front of us and saying (like Mary), "Lord, here I am, your servant, use me."

Stay tuned for Part IV (The Sounding Joy) of "Journey to Christmas"

Journey to Christmas: Knowing Our Preparation

This is Part II of "Journey to Christmas"

Knowing Our Preparation (12/4/11)

God wants so much more for us than all of the hype, to-do lists, planning, and other chaos of the holiday season. Christmas is not just a birthday party or memorial for Jesus - it's so much more.

God didn't send His son, so that on December 26 we can just go on living the way we have been (or living how we lived back in November) - He doesn't want us to go back to "business as usual." Christmas is supposed to be about a change... about something happening in our lives and in our hearts, so that we wake up on December 26 different than we were on December 24. We should be able to make a list for the things that will change because we remember Christ has been born unto us... and we must hold ourselves accountable to that list.

God wants Christmas to change our lives and our hearts. But, it takes intentional preparation to get what God wants for us. First, we must recognize / realize that we need a change... that we need something different (see Part I). Then, we must do some things intentionally so that we can prepare ourselves and the world for what Christ wants to do.

OURSELVES

In Mark 1:1-8, there's a description of how we can prepare so that Christmas can really make a difference and transform our lives... and perhaps even the world around us with Jesus Christ as change-agent. In Mark, the people came out of the woodwork and into the wilderness to repent of their sins, to admit that they'd fallen short, and to so aloud and publicly, "I can't live this life successfully on my own... I need help," and then to be claimed, forgiven, and loved by a God who said, "I'll always be there for you."

John the Baptist Prepares the Way
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:1-8)

We must repent...

• of all those times we believed we were good enough on our own
• of all those times we think we have all the answers
• of all those times we think we're better than somebody else or that we've got the right way of doing something and sombody else doesn't

We must repent and admit that we can't do it by ourselves... we need God. Because, how can God even begin to give us a gift of something wonderful, something changing, something dynamic... if we don't think we need anything?

When times are good and we feel like we have all the answers and like we have it all figured out, Christmas may just go by unnoticed because we don't think we need the gift of Christ. But, when we realize how inadequate we really are, how we don't really have any of the answers, and how much we really can't do... the gift of Christ means so much and makes such a difference.

Individually, we must prepare ourselves by making room for the needs that we have. We have to admit that we need a gift, so that when the gift comes, it means something to us and it does something for us. In preparation, we must ask ourselves...

• Are we admitting to it (i.e., our sins, need for God's help)?
• Are we asking for forgiveness?
• Are we talking about our shortcomings?

THE WORLD

But, Christmas isn't really about us (as individuals) - Christ came to change the world. We are responsible for preparing the world for the coming of the Christ child... preparing them to receive the good news of Jesus Christ... by helping others to be ready to understand and to know that Christ can make a difference for them, too.

"A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God [make straight the paths of our God]. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'" (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Our world is full of valleys / pits / ditches - where people live so deep down that they can't see the light, no matter how bright it is. We are to reach out to those that suffer from depression, physical pain, loneliness, oppression, discrimination, etc... It's our job to raise these people up... to look for those people that the world has pushed down (those that have been told they're not good enough / they're wrong / they don't fit in)... and to pull them up and make the ground more level, so that they might see the light of Christ.

Our world is also full of mountains, where some people live so high up on mountains (thinking they've got it all figured out...) that they won't see the light either.

The glory of the Lord will be revealed for ALL to see.

Christmas is about getting the world ready to see the glory of Christ's love. We're supposed to prepare the way by making a highway (straight, narrow, directly to Christ), to knock down any barrier / burden / or ditch between every single person, and to develop an understanding of how unconditionally loved and accepted they are by God.

Ultimately, when we allow Christmas to be about the world around us (rather than about ourselves), it becomes about letting others journey to Christ along side us.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT

The season of Advent has come to be celebrated as a time of expectation and anticipation. There is a hope that comes with the season, as we anticipate a King who will come and rule with peace, justice, and righteousness. But, part of the expectation that comes with the anticipation is a judgment on sin. The world will be called to accountability before God. However, we must remember that we are contributors to the sin of this world, and we will be held to the same judgment and accountability as "the rest of the world." As the prophet Amos warned, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" (Amos 5:18-20).

Still, the season of Advent is celebrated as a time of expectation and anticipation, a longing for God to restore all things and vindicate the righteous. Thus, during Advent, we also anticipate the Second Coming of Christ. Thus, we begin the journey (as the disciples did) with the anticipation and joy of Advent, which slowly fades into the realization (and subsequent repentance) of the sins that we have made... leading to the awful reality of Good Friday. And, it is through this realization that we can be ready to receive the Good News on Resurrection Sunday.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins expresses the spirit of Advent well (Matthew 25:1-13). The ten virgins await the coming of the bridegroom, with joy and anticipation. And, yet, the parable provides a warning of the need for preparation.

Stay tuned for Part III (Knowing Our Part) of "Journey to Christmas"

Journey to Christmas: Knowing Our Need

Keller UMC

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to make it to church at all this Advent season. I'm grateful that my church posts the full-length sermons online, so I've been trying to listen to and reflect on them (I'm a little behind, but that's just how it goes sometimes). So, I thought I'd share some of what was included in the sermons, as well as my own thoughts and reflections on them.

Advent is a season of preparation. It is a time of celebration, preparation, and anticipation. Christ has come, He is present in the world today, and He will come again.

Knowing Our Need (11/27/11)

We must consider what it might look like to really think of ourselves as clay, in the hands of the Master Potter. He is an artist, seeing something fantastic in the lump of clay that we are. But, it's a process / journey to be molded from a lump of clay into a beautiful finished piece... a masterpiece.

Each year, the birth of Christ is to be experienced as a real (rather than just a memorial) event - the birth of Christ can mean new life in Christ, if we allow it to. Christmas-time is a time to remember that God is still at work in our lives - He is not done with us. Each year, He forms / molds / shapes us in new ways, slowly transforming our lumpy clay-ness into a beautiful masterpiece.

But, even a Master Potter needs good clay. We must be ready... ready to allow Him to shape us. Sometimes, we find ourselves too hard, dry, rigid... believing that we're okay the way we are and don't need work - OR - too soft and wet... believing that we're too busy and/or think that we're not good for much of anything (not worthy). Thankfully, God is willing to work with anything. Even if we are too hard or soft, we can never get to a point where God is unwilling to work on us. But, we should try to make ourselves ready for Him to shape us.

We have a need to be molded / shaped, but we must realize / recognize that we both deserve and need God to shape us... to change us. We must know that there's a need to change, and then really believe and expect that something really will change. When you assume and expect nothing to change, not much changes.

Especially around the holidays, our lives can get so busy, distracted, and chaotic that we forget where we were going; but God doesn't want us to "just get through it," He wants so much more... but we have to be ready.

"Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people." (Isaiah 64:1-9)

Stay tuned for Part II (Knowing Our Preparation) of "Journey to Christmas"