The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Duh.

Then how come the things I want to do I never get to do because I always seem to be doing something else?

Life gets cluttered doesn’t it?

Take my bookshelf for example, here’s where I collect the books whose reading I believe will make me a better pastor and Christ follower.

When we put that bookcase there, and hung that diploma there, our décor scheme didn’t really call for me to stack all those books exactly where they rest.

So during Advent I’m clearing them off, one by one, and by Christmas the stack will be gone.

It’s my Advent metaphor. What’s yours?

As we will hear on Sunday, Advent calls us to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ by making paths straight. No more meandering and mulling around, just beelines. Advent is the kick in the pants we may need to finish that project, clean off that plate, delegate this task, reassign that chore, or even eliminate it altogether.

It’s because Jesus is coming, not just on December 25^th, but at any moment.

We’re only a grace away from a car wreck, blood clot, or even that great parting of the clouds.

Are we keeping the main thing, the main thing?

What needs decluttering?

Are we just being active, or are we being productive?

How can we shorten the distance between those two points?

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Reading

Small Talk – Debra Fine

The Triumph of Christianity – Rodney Stark

Paul – Donald Coogan