Daily Advent Challenge.. Share the Joy.. Keep today Holy. Slow down, unplug and be present.

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." ~ St, Francis de Sales

Challenge: Keep today Holy. Slow down, unplug and be present 

To help make Sunday holy, you need to delegate time to focus on what you have instead of searching for something new.  Make Sunday, your day to disconnect from work and technology so you can reconnect with family and friends and even time to reconnect with oneself. Listen to your internal voice instead of the external noise. 

Turn off and tune in. Be present in the moment. Engage with others. Do things you love. On this day:

• rest
• go to church
• exercise, go for a walk, ride a bike
• spend time outdoors
• listen to or play music
• pray or meditate
• write something
• sit still
• spend time alone
• spend time with family

"One of the most challenging parts of observing the Sabbath in today’s day and age is overcoming a dependence on instant gratification and distraction. The Internet makes it possible for us to feed most of our wants and needs now—whether looking for a recipe, buying a new swimsuit, or checking the weather. Technology has also made it easier than ever to numb our emotions and distract us from anxieties. Social media—Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest—television, 24 hours “news” coverage, and blogs all give us an easy outlet for distraction so we don’t have to endure discomfort, whether within ourselves or amongst others." ~Christine Organ

So on this day, let us unplug. Let us remove all distractions one day a week. Let us find comfort within ourselves, gain self awareness and figure out how to work through, not around our problems. By disconnecting, we are able to slow down, disconnect from the frenetic pace of technology to reconnect with the sacredly simple. This will allow us to see and savor the goodness in the present moment. When we are present, in that moment, this is where we will find the calm and a mild exhilaration in the stillness and the quiet and the waiting.