Who’s Talking?  On the night before Thanksgiving, after running a few errands and making sure everything was ready for the next day’s task of cooking my two turkeys, I decided I would meander over to my parents’ house to help them put up some Christmas decorations.  I always have these grandiose ideas I’m going to work on the outdoor lights in early November when it’s a bit warmer.  I also always think I’m going to get things organized in the basement so our family decorating day goes smoothly.  Well, that never happens!  It always seems we’re doing the outdoor lights on the coldest day of the year and we’re always behind on getting the indoor stuff done.  It never seems to fail.  This year was no different.  Since I had the time on Thanksgiving eve, I decided I would help put up at least the Christmas tree and get a few things done inside.  By the time I got out to the house it was close to 7:00 p.m.  The first order of business was to decide where to put the Christmas tree.  Earlier this year we added another power recliner to the Living Room.  The new recliner occupies the space where the tree would normally land.  Moving things around was going to be complicated; moving the chair downstairs to the basement was out of the question because we have a chair lift in the staircase and so space is limited.  With the complications of moving furniture around, my mom’s first inclination was to forego putting up a tree this year; she figured there would be enough Christmas stuff up that forgoing the tree wouldn’t be a big deal.  Well, I wasn’t going to hear any of that.  We then started talking about putting up a thinner or what is called a “pencil” tree (a super thin tree).  It was now inching toward 9:00 p.m. and I convinced my mom we should head out to Michael’s or Home Depot to pick up a new tree.  My dad heard the conversation and just rolled his eyes.  Even if he had said something he knew he would have been outnumbered, so he was wise simply to roll his eyes and keep quiet.  My mom was game but was worried we would never make it by the time the stores closed.  Thankfully, a quick google search revealed that Michael’s was open until 10 p.m.  So, my mom and I made a mad dash out to Michael’s; my dad decided to stay home.  We got to Michael’s and started to wander around.  Once inside, it seems like the mad pace of life slowed down.  I learned from my mom how to wander around stores and simply take my time.  As we were wandering, we found an absolute perfect “pencil tree.”  The tree couldn’t have been more prefect.  Plus, it was on sale and we could brag to my dad about how much we saved!  As we were walking around I started hearing a voice as if someone nearby was using their speakerphone to take a call.  I glanced around but no one was nearby.  I checked my phone to make sure I hadn’t accidently dialed someone.  It wasn’t me.  But I kept hearing, “Hello.  Hello. Are you there?”  Then there was silence and I heard: “If you’d like to make a call hang up and dial again.”  My mom was now in the game of hunting down the sound.  It was driving us both crazy.  My mom checked her phone in her coat pocket.  The sound wasn’t coming from her phone.  She then held up her purse to her ear because it seemed as if the sound was coming from her purse.  The whole thing was odd!  Then the “light bulb” went off and my mom stated loudly, “Oh my gosh, it’s my button; it must have gone off.”  Sure enough, my mom forgot to put on her emergency “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” button and left it in her purse.  The button must have gotten jostled enough that the electronics “thought” my mom had fallen.  I pressed the button to activate a call to the control center to let them know it was an accident.  Just as I was talking to the operator, my dad was calling to get a hold of me; he was told my mom had fallen and they couldn’t reach her.  The medical alert company wanted to know if they needed to send help.  Suddenly, I envisioned an ambulance and fire truck on their way to Michael’s.  This was going to be a nightmare; the savings on the Christmas tree was going to get eaten up by the cost of this false alarm.  At this point, I simply wanted to get this Christmas tree up for my parents and didn’t want anything to sabotage my efforts.  I have enough things that sabotage my time every day and I didn’t anticipate having to deal with a false medical alarm on the night before Thanksgiving.  Thankfully, we got everything squared away and called off the help before help was sent.  We got the tree and drove home.  The tree got assembled and was readied for the decorating party that was planned for Sunday.  It was a fun evening.  Needless to say, we had a great laugh over my mom’s talking purse.  At least we know the button works!!
 
Advent Resources:  Even though the sights and sounds of Christmas are all around us, we need to remember the beautiful and grace-filled season of Advent.  In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, Advent calls us to embrace stillness and quiet as we prepare for the birth of Christ the King.
 
There are MANY things you can do to help your Advent journey.  You can read the reflections in the Little Blue Book from the Diocese of Saginaw.  You could pick up a spiritual book.  You could spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.  You could attend one of our reconciliation services.  You could make it a goal to attend mass more frequently.  The options are endless and so are the rewards.
 
You may also want to consider some of the many wonderful online resources that are available.  You could get the Magnificat Advent Companion (for iOS, Android, Kindle).  Creighton University has a great webpage with links to their advent resources (bit.ly/prayingadvent).  The Irish Jesuits have a site that offers an Advent Retreat (sacredspace.ie).  The Jesuits in Britain have a resource with audio reflections for every day of the year (pray-as-you-go.org).  You can also find plenty of Advent reading material and activities for the whole family at AmericanCathholic.org (bit.ly/AmericanCatholicAdvent).  Yes, there are plenty of online resources to help you with your Advent journey; you just have to make the time to stop, pause and pray!
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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