It’s early, still dark outside, and the house is quiet. I’m sitting at the dining room table enjoying the light from the Advent candles and a cup of coffee in a much beloved Christmas mug that a dear friend gave me decades ago. ⁣ ⁣ I’m preparing to deal with the mess that is just beyond the camera frame: the kitchen that’s been neglected as we’ve done other projects, the detritus of said projects that is getting moved closer and closer to the door, boxes of items to be returned or mailed.⁣ ⁣

In this Advent season we listen to the voice that cries out in the wilderness, “𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥; 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 “ (Mark 1:3). As we wait for Christmas, we are clearing space in our daily routines and in our hearts for the love of Jesus to enter in, reorient us, and clear the way for the expansive love of Jesus to work in us and through our words and actions in the world.⁣ ⁣

For me, this Advent preparation has an added layer as I prepare in mid-January to leave the faith community I have served for 18 years. This too is preparing the way for God to work in new ways through my life, for ministry to take new shape. ⁣ ⁣ Part of this preparation is working itself out in the projects in our home—clearing things out, paring back to what we need, use and love. For me, removing the physical clutter and chaos also removes the mental clutter and noise; which, in turn, helps me to be attentive to God’s Spirit and listen with more openness.⁣ ⁣

Part of preparing to leave is discerning what in my work life needs to be done and what can be left undone so that I have more time to connect with the people of this beloved community as my leave-taking approaches.⁣ ⁣ Preparing is one of the ways we create space for renewal. It is a deliberate practice of making space for what matters, clearing the way for something else to happen.⁣ ⁣

What are you preparing for in these days?

As you prepare, what are you hoping to experience as you clear space?⁣ ⁣