Connecting with God doesn’t begin with putting our best foot forward. It begins with telling the truth. It begins with remembering. Not just God’s blessings, but our own sorrow.

Most of us spend enormous energy protecting the shell. We curate an image that says we have life under control. We compare ourselves with others, hoping to keep up, while quietly feeling anxious or inadequate. We resist the very places where God longs to meet us.

It’s true…pride comes before a fall

Attachment theory puts language to something deeply human. Children grow up healthier and more resilient when they have a secure attachment with a parent or caregiver. When a baby is distressed, they don’t calm themselves through insight or willpower. They calm by looking into a face that is calm, responsive, and present.

What I’m learning (ever so slowly) is this: what holds my attention shapes my life. We become what we behold. My first priority ends up defining me.

Love becomes our hallmark - the visible sign of genuine faith. Not right beliefs. Not perfect behavior. Love. Love that radiates outward toward God and others. Love is the simplest summary of Christmas.

This time of year, I find myself looking for the light. In my corner of the world, the sun slips below the horizon at about 5PM and it can feel as if the darkness is swallowing the day whole.